ای عجب چندین دراز این گفت و گو ** چون بود بیهوده ور خود هست کو
Oh, how wonderful! This tale (related by the prophets and saints) is so long: how should it be vain? And if it really is (as they say), where (is that which they tell of)?’
من همی‌گویم چو ایشان ای عجب ** این چنین مهری چرا زد صنع رب
I, like them, am saying, ‘Oh, how wonderful! Why has the action of the Lord put such a seal (upon their eyes)?’”
زین تنازعها محمد در عجب ** در تعجب نیز مانده بولهب
By these contentions (on the part of the unbelievers) Mohammed was astonished; Abú Lahab also remained in astonishment (at him).
زین عجب تا آن عجب فرقیست ژرف ** تا چه خواهد کرد سلطان شگرف
Between this astonishment and that astonishment there is a profound difference. (Let us see) what the Almighty King will do (to the infidels in the end).
ای دقوقی تیزتر ران هین خموش ** چند گویی چند چون قحطست گوش2045
O Daqúqí, advance more quickly (in thy quest for Unity). Hark, be silent! Inasmuch as there is a dearth of ears, how long wilt thou speak, how long?
یک درخت شدن آن هفت درخت
How the seven trees became one.
گفت راندم پیشتر من نیکبخت ** باز شد آن هفت جمله یک درخت
He (Daqúqí) said, “I, the fortunate one, pushed forward; again all the seven (trees) became one tree.
هفت می‌شد فرد می‌شد هر دمی ** من چه سان می‌گشتم ازحیرت همی
At every moment they were becoming seven and (also) a single one: (you may imagine) what I was becoming like, through bewilderment.
بعد از آن دیدم درختان در نماز ** صف کشیده چون جماعت کرده ساز
After that, I beheld the trees (engaged) in the ritual prayer, drawn up in line and (properly) arranged like the congregation (of Moslems):
یک درخت از پیش مانند امام ** دیگران اندر پس او در قیام
One tree (was) in front like the Imám, the others (were) standing behind it.
آن قیام و آن رکوع و آن سجود ** از درختان بس شگفتم می‌نمود2050
That standing and kneeling and bowing low on the part of the trees seemed to me very marvellous.
یاد کردم قول حق را آن زمان ** گفت النجم و شجر را یسجدان
Then I called to mind the word of God: He said, concerning the stalkless plants and the trees, ‘they bow down.’
این درختان را نه زانو نه میان ** این چه ترتیب نمازست آنچنان
Those trees had neither knee nor waist: what (a marvel) is such a regulation (regular performance) of the ritual prayer (in their case)!
آمد الهام خدا کای با فروز ** می عجب داری ز کار ما هنوز
The Divine inspiration came (upon me), saying, ‘O illustrious one, art thou still wondering at Our action?’
هفت مرد شدن آن هفت درخت
How the seven trees became seven men.
بعد دیری گشت آنها هفت مرد ** جمله در قعده پی یزدان فرد
After a long while those (trees) became seven men, all seated (in contemplation) for the sake of God who is single.
چشم می‌مالم که آن هفت ارسلان ** تا کیانند و چه دارند از جهان2055
I keep rubbing my eyes (and wondering) who are those seven heroes and what they have of this world.
چون به نزدیکی رسیدم من ز راه ** کردم ایشان را سلام از انتباه
When by (traversing) the road I came near (to them), I saluted them alertly.
قوم گفتندم جواب آن سلام ** ای دقوقی مفخر و تاج کرام
The company (the seven men) answered that salutation, saying, ‘O Daqúqí, glory and crown of the noble!’
گفتم آخر چون مرا بشناختند ** پیش ازین بر من نظر ننداختند
‘Why,’ said I (to myself), ‘how did they recognise me? They never set eyes on me before this (moment).’
از ضمیر من بدانستند زود ** یکدگر را بنگریدند از فرود
At once they knew of my unspoken thought, and looked covertly at one another,
پاسخم دادند خندان کای عزیز ** این بپوشیدست اکنون بر تو نیز2060
And smilingly answered, ‘O honoured one, is this hidden from thee even now?
بر دلی کو در تحیر با خداست ** کی شود پوشیده راز چپ و راست
How should the mystery of left and right be hidden from the heart that is in (the state of) bewilderment with God?’
گفتم ار سوی حقایق بشکفند ** چون ز اسم حرف رسمی واقفند
I said (to myself), ‘If they are open to (in communication with) the (spiritual) realities, (yet) how are they acquainted with names (consisting) of letters attached to the form (of words)?’
گفت اگر اسمی شود غیب از ولی ** آن ز استغراق دان نه از جاهلی
He (one of the seven men) said, ‘If a name vanish from (the consciousness of) a saint, know that that is (the result arising) from (his) absorption (in God), not from ignorance.’
بعد از آن گفتند ما را آرزوست ** اقتدا کردن به تو ای پاک دوست
Afterwards they said, ‘We desire to follow thy leadership (in prayer), O holy friend.’
گفتم آری لیک یک ساعت که من ** مشکلاتی دارم از دور زمن2065
‘Yes,’ said I, ‘but (wait) awhile—for I have certain difficulties (derived) from the revolution of Time—