چون که اسماعیل در جویش فتاد ** پیش دشنهی آب دارش سر نهاد
When Ismá‘íl (Ishmael) fell into the stream thereof, he laid his head before his (Abraham's) flashing knife.
جان داود از شعاعش گرم شد ** آهن اندر دست بافش نرم شد915
The soul of David was heated by its rays: iron became soft in his hand-loom.
چون سلیمان بد وصالش را رضیع ** دیو گشتش بنده فرمان و مطیع
When Solomon was suckled on (the milk of) union with it, the demon became a thrall to his command and obedient.
در قضا یعقوب چون بنهاد سر ** چشم روشن کرد از بوی پسر
When Jacob bowed his head (in submission) to the (Divine) destiny, it (the Light) illumined (gladdened) his eye with the scent of his (lost) son.
یوسف مه رو چو دید آن آفتاب ** شد چنان بیدار در تعبیر خواب
When the moon-faced Joseph beheld that Sun, he became so wide-awake (wise) in the interpretation of dreams.
چون عصا از دست موسی آب خورد ** ملکت فرعون را یک لقمه کرد
When the rod drank water (was imbued with the influence of the Light) from the hand of Moses, it made one mouthful of Pharaoh's empire.
نردبانش عیسی مریم چو یافت ** بر فراز گنبد چارم شتافت920
When Jesus, the son of Mary, found its ladder, he sped to the topmost height of the Fourth Dome (of Heaven).
چون محمد یافت آن ملک و نعیم ** قرص مه را کرد او در دم دو نیم
When Mohammed gained that Kingdom and Felicity, he in a moment clave the disk of the moon in two halves.
چون ابو بکر آیت توفیق شد ** با چنان شه صاحب و صدیق شد
When Abú Bakr became a signal example of (God's) favour, he became the Companion of such a King (as Mohammed) and (received the name) Siddíq.
چون عمر شیدای آن معشوق شد ** حق و باطل را چو دل فاروق شد
When ‘Umar became distraught with that Beloved, he became a Fárúq (discerner), like the heart, between truth and falsehood.
چون که عثمان آن عیان را عین گشت ** نور فایض بود و ذی النورین گشت
When ‘Uthmán became the fountain of that clear (Essence), he was light overflowing and became Dhu ’l-Núrayn (Lord of the Two Lights).
چون ز رویش مرتضی شد در فشان ** گشت او شیر خدا درمرج جان925
When at (the sight of) its countenance Murtazá (‘Alí) began to scatter pearls (of spiritual truth), he became the Lion of God in the pasture of the soul.
چون جنید از جند او دید آن مدد ** خود مقاماتش فزون شد از عدد
When Junayd received that support (which he received) from its army, his maqámát (stages of progress in the mystical life) became innumerable.
بایزید اندر مزیدش راه دید ** نام قطب العارفین از حق شنید
Báyazíd saw the way into its superabundance, and heard from God (heard God bestow upon him) the name, “Pole of the Gnostics.”
چون که کرخی کرخ او را شد حرص ** شد خلیفهی عشق و ربانی نفس
When Karkhí became the guard of its city, he became the vicar of (Divine) love and inspired by the Divine breath.
پور ادهم مرکب آن سو راند شاد ** گشت او سلطان سلطانان داد
The son of Adham joyously rode his steed towards it, and became the supreme sovereign of justice.
و آن شقیق از شق آن راه شگرف ** گشت او خورشید رای و تیز طرف930
And that (famous) Shaqíq by cleaving (traversing) that venerable Way became a sun of (clear) judgement and keen-sighted.
صد هزاران پادشاهان نهان ** سر فرازانند ز آن سوی جهان
Hundreds of thousands of hidden (spiritual) kings are holding their heads high (in the region) beyond this world;
نامشان از رشک حق پنهان بماند ** هر گدایی نامشان را بر نخواند
Because of God's jealousy their names remained hidden: every beggar did not pronounce their names.
حق آن نور و حق نورانیان ** کاندر آن بحرند همچون ماهیان
By the truth of that Light and by the truth of those illumined ones who are as fishes in that Sea—
بحر جان و جان بحر ار گویمش ** نیست لایق نام نو میجویمش
’Tis not fitting if I call it the Sea of the Soul and the Soul of the Sea: I am seeking a new name for it;—
حق آن آنی که این و آن از اوست ** مغزها نسبت بدو باشد چو پوست935
By the truth of that That from which this and that are (derived), and in relation to which (all) kernels are (as) rinds,
که صفات خواجهتاش و یار من ** هست صد چندان که این گفتار من
(I swear) that the (good) qualities of my fellow-servant and friend exceed my description (of them) a hundredfold.
آن چه میدانم ز وصف آن ندیم ** باورت ناید چه گویم ای کریم
That which I know of the (spiritual) endowments of that comrade (of mine) would not be believed by thee: what shall I say, O noble (king)?”
شاه گفت اکنون از آن خود بگو ** چند گویی آن این و آن او
The King said, “Now speak of your own (case); how long will you speak of what concerns this or that one?