Again, the uninspired fool who in his ignorance does not know a stranger's voice from a kinsman's—
پیش او دعوی بود گفتار او ** جهل او شد مایهی انکار او3580
To him his (the speaker's) words are (mere) assertion: his ignorance has become the source of his disbelief;
پیش زیرک کاندرونش نورهاست ** عین این آواز معنی بود راست
(But) to him of keen insight, within whom are the (spiritual) lights, the very nature of this voice was just the (immediate evidence of its) reality.
یا به تازی گفت یک تازی زبان ** که همیدانم زبان تازیان
Or (for example) one whose mother-tongue is Arabic says in Arabic, “I know the language of the Arabs.”
عین تازی گفتنش معنی بود ** گر چه تازی گفتنش دعوی بود
The very fact of his speaking in Arabic is (evidence of) the reality (of his assertion), although his saying (that he knows) Arabic is (only) an assertion.
یا نویسد کاتبی بر کاغذی ** کاتب و خط خوانم و من ابجدی
Or a writer may write on a piece of paper, “I am a writer and a reader, and I am a most accomplished person.”
این نوشته گر چه خود دعوی بود ** هم نوشته شاهد معنی بود3585
Although this written (statement) itself is a (mere) assertion, still the script is evidence of the reality (of the assertion).
یا بگوید صوفیی دیدی تو دوش ** در میان خواب سجاده به دوش
Or a Súfí may say, “Last night, while asleep, you saw some one with a prayer carpet on his shoulder.
من بدم آن و آن چه گفتم خواب در ** با تو اندر خواب در شرح نظر
That was I; and what I said to you in the dream, whilst you slumbered, in explanation of clairvoyance—
گوش کن چون حلقه اندر گوش کن ** آن سخن را پیشوای هوش کن
Give ear (to it), put it in your ear like an ear-ring: make those words (of mine) your mind's guide.”
چون ترا یاد آید آن خواب این سخن ** معجز نو باشد و زر کهن
When you recollect the dream, these words (of his) are (as real to you as) a new miracle or old gold.
گر چه دعوی مینماید این ولی ** جان صاحب واقعه گوید بلی3590
Although this seems to be (mere) assertion (on his part), yet the soul of the dreamer says, “Yes, (it is true).”
پس چو حکمت ضالهی مومن بود ** آن ز هر که بشنود موقن بود
Therefore, since Wisdom is the faithful believer's stray camel, he knows it with certainty, from whomsoever he has heard it;
چون که خود را پیش او یابد فقط ** چون بود شک چون کند او را غلط
And when he finds himself absolutely in front of it, how should there be doubt? How should he mistake it?
تشنهای را چون بگویی تو شتاب ** در قدح آب است بستان زود آب
When you say to a thirsty man, “Make haste! there is water in the cup: take the water at once,”
هیچ گوید تشنه کاین دعوی است رو ** از برم ای مدعی مهجور شو
Will the thirsty man say in any event?—“This is (mere) assertion: go from my side, O pretender! Get thee far away!
یا گواه و حجتی بنما که این ** جنس آب است و از آن ماء معین3595
Or (else) produce some testimony and proof that this is of aqueous kind and consists of the water that runs from a spring.
یا به طفل شیر مادر بانگ زد ** که بیا من مادرم هان ای ولد
Or (suppose that) a mother cries to her suckling babe, “Come, I am mother: hark, my child!”—