گر نبودی حس دیگر مر ترا ** جز حس حیوان ز بیرون هوا
If, besides the animal sense, thou hadst not another sense outside of (unconditioned by) the desire of the flesh,
پس بنی آدم مکرم کی بدی ** کی به حس مشترک محرم شدی
Then how should the sons of Adam have been honoured? How by means of the common sense should they have become privileged (to know these mysteries)?
نا مصور یا مصور گفتننت ** باطل آمد بی ز صورت رستنت
Your calling (God) “formless” (transcending forms) or “formed” (immanent in forms) is vain, without your departure from form (unless you yourself are freed from sense perception).
نامصور یا مصور پیش اوست ** کاو همه مغز است و بیرون شد ز پوست
(Whether God is) “formless” or “formed,” He is with him that is all kernel and has gone forth from the husk.
گر تو کوری نیست بر اعمی حرج ** ور نه رو کالصبر مفتاح الفرج70
If you are blind, ’tis no crime in the blind; (but) if not, go (persevere in purifying yourself), for patience is the key to success.
پردههای دیده را داروی صبر ** هم بسوزد هم بسازد شرح صدر
The medicine of patience will burn the veils over your eye and will also effect the opening of your breast (to Divine knowledge).
آینهی دل چون شود صافی و پاک ** نقشها بینی برون از آب و خاک
When the mirror of your heart becomes clear and pure, you will behold images (which are) outside of (the world of) water and earth.
هم ببینی نقش و هم نقاش را ** فرش دولت را و هم فراش را
You will behold both the image and the image-Maker, both the carpet of (spiritual) empire and the carpet-Spreader.
چون خلیل آمد خیال یار من ** صورتش بت معنی او بت شکن
The phantom (seen in mystical vision) of my Friend seemed (to me) like Khalíl (Abraham)—its form an idol, its reality a breaker of idols.
شکر یزدان را که چون شد او پدید ** در خیالش جان خیال خود بدید75
Thanks be to God that when he appeared, my spirit beheld in his phantom its own phantom (reflected image).
خاک درگاهت دلم را میفریفت ** خاک بر وی کاو ز خاکت میشکیفت
The dust of thy threshold was bewitching my heart: dust (woe) on him that was patient without thy dust!
گفتم ار خوبم پذیرم این از او ** ور نه خود خندید بر من زشت رو
I said, “If I am beautiful, I shall receive this (dust of Divine grace and love) from him; and if not, he has indeed laughed at ugly me.
چاره آن باشد که خود را بنگرم ** ور نه او خندد مرا من کی خرم
The (best) plan is this, that I look at myself (to see whether I am worthy of him); otherwise (if I am not worthy), he will laugh at me: how shall I buy (gain his love)?”
او جمیل است و محب للجمال ** کی جوان نو گزیند پیر زال
He is beautiful and a lover of beauty: how should a fresh young man choose a decrepit old woman?
خوب خوبی را کند جذب این بدان ** طیبات و طیبین بر وی بخوان80
The Beautiful attracts the beautiful (to itself): know this (for sure). Recite thereon (the text) the good women for the good men.
در جهان هر چیز چیزی جذب کرد ** گرم گرمی را کشید و سرد سرد
In this world everything attracts something: the hot draws the hot (to itself) and the cold the cold.
قسم باطل باطلان را میکشند ** باقیان از باقیان هم سر خوشند
The worthless sort attract the worthless; the lasting (those of lasting worth) are rejoiced by the lasting.
ناریان مر ناریان را جاذباند ** نوریان مر نوریان را طالباند
Those of the Fire attract those of the Fire, those of the Light seek those of the Light.
چشم چون بستی ترا تاسه گرفت ** نور چشم از نور روزن کی شکفت
When you shut your eye, you have a feeling of anguish: the eye cannot do without the light of the window.
تاسهی تو جذب نور چشم بود ** تا بپیوندد به نور روز زود85
Your discomfort was (caused by) the light in your eye straining to be joined speedily with the daylight.
چشم باز ار تاسه گیرد مر ترا ** دان که چشم دل ببستی بر گشا
If you feel distress (within) while your eyes are unclosed, know that you have shut the eye of your heart, (and) open it.
آن تقاضای دو چشم دل شناس ** کاو همیجوید ضیای بیقیاس
Recognise that that (distress) is the craving of the eyes of your heart which is seeking the immeasurable Light.
چون فراق آن دو نور بیثبات ** تاسه آوردت گشادی چشمهات
Inasmuch as separation from those two impermanent lights brought you discomfort, (so that) you opened your eyes,
پس فراق آن دو نور پایدار ** تاسه میآرد مر آن را پاس دار
Separation, then, from those two steadfast (everlasting) lights will bring you discomfort: guard them (well)!
او چو میخواند مرا من بنگرم ** لایق جذبام و یا بد پیکرم90
Since He is calling me, I will look to see whether I am worthy to be drawn (to Him) or whether I am ill-favoured.