یا مگر مرده تراشیده‌ی شماست ** پشه‌ی زنده تراشیده‌ی خداست
Or, maybe, (’tis because) the dead one is fashioned by you, (whereas) the living gnat is fashioned by God.
عاشق خویشید و صنعت‌کرد خویش ** دم ماران را سر مارست کیش
Ye are in love with yourselves and the thing manufactured by yourselves: to serpents' tails the serpent's head is a law.
نه در آن دم دولتی و نعمتی ** نه در آن سر راحتی و لذتی
In that tail there is no fortune or happiness; in that head there is no pleasure or delight.
گرد سر گردان بود آن دم مار ** لایق‌اند و درخورند آن هر دو یار2770
That serpent's tail is circling around the head: both those friends are fit and suited (to each other).
آنچنان گوید حکیم غزنوی ** در الهی‌نامه گر خوش بشنوی
So says the Sage of Ghazna in the Iláhí-náma, if thou wilt hearken well—
کم فضولی کن تو در حکم قدر ** درخور آمد شخص خر با گوش خر
“Do not behave as a (presumptuous) meddler in the decree of (Divine) fore-ordainment: the ass's shape is suited to the ass's ear.”
شد مناسب عضوها و ابدانها ** شد مناسب وصفها با جانها
Limbs and bodies are congruous; qualities are congruous with souls.
وصف هر جانی تناسب باشدش ** بی گمان با جان که حق بتراشدش
Unquestionably the quality of every soul has congruity with the soul; for God fashions it (accordingly).
چون صفت با جان قرین کردست او ** پس مناسب دانش همچون چشم و رو2775
Inasmuch as He hath joined the quality to the soul, know that it (the quality) is congruous, like eyes and face.
شد مناسب وصفها در خوب و زشت ** شد مناسب حرفها که حق نبشت
The (good and evil) qualities are congruous in the good and evil (souls): congruous are the letters that God hath written.
دیده و دل هست بین اصبعین ** چون قلم در دست کاتب ای حسین
The eye and the heart are between two fingers like a pen in the hand of the writer, O Husayn.
اصبع لطفست و قهر و در میان ** کلک دل با قبض و بسطی زین بنان
(These) are the fingers of Grace and Wrath, and between them the pen, the heart, is in a state of distress or ease (caused) by these fingers.
ای قلم بنگر گر اجلالیستی ** که میان اصبعین کیستی
O pen, if thou art one that (duly) magnifies (God), consider whose two fingers thou art between.
جمله قصد و جنبشت زین اصبعست ** فرق تو بر چار راه مجمعست2780
All thy volition and movement are (controlled) by this finger: thy head (point) is on the crossways of the assembly-place.
این حروف حالهات از نسخ اوست ** عزم و فسخت هم ز عزم و فسخ اوست
These letters (symbolising) thy (diverse) states are of His inditing: thy forming a purpose and changing it is just from His forming a purpose and changing it.
جز نیاز و جز تضرع راه نیست ** زین تقلب هر قلم آگاه نیست
There is no way but supplication and self-abasement: not every pen is conscious of this subjection to (Divine) control.
این قلم داند ولی بر قدر خود ** قدر خود پیدا کند در نیک و بد
The pen knows this (control), but (only) according to its (fore-ordained) measure: it manifests its measure (of knowledge) in good and evil (actions).
آنچ در خرگوش و پیل آویختند ** تا ازل را با حیل آمیختند
(As regards) that (apologue) which they attached to the hare and the elephant, so that they confused (the dispensation of) eternity with (mere) tricks,
بیان آنک هر کس را نرسد مثل آوردن خاصه در کار الهی
[Explaining that it is not seemly for every one to adduce parables, especially concerning Divine actions.]
کی رسدتان این مثلها ساختن ** سوی آن درگاه پاک انداختن2785
How is it seemly for you to make these similitudes and cast them at (apply them to) that holy Court?
آن مثل آوردن آن حضرتست ** که بعلم سر و جهر او آیتست
That use of similitudes belongs to the Lord, for He is the (sole) authority for the knowledge of the hidden and the manifest.
تو چه دانی سر چیزی تا تو کل ** یا به زلفی یا به رخ آری مثل
What dost thou know of the hidden nature of anything, that thou, baldpate, shouldst use a lock of hair or a cheek as similitudes?
موسیی آن را عصا دید و نبود ** اژدها بد سر او لب می‌گشود
A Moses deemed that (wood) a rod, but it was not (a rod): it was a dragon: its hidden nature was opening its lips (revealing itself).
چون چنان شاهی نداند سر چوب ** تو چه دانی سر این دام و حبوب
Inasmuch as such a (spiritual) king knows not the hidden nature of wood, how shouldst thou know the hidden nature of this snare and bait?
چون غلط شد چشم موسی در مثل ** چون کند موشی فضولی مدخل2790
Since the eye of Moses was at fault in the similitude, how should a meddling mouse find an entrance (to perception of the truth)?
آن مثالت را چو اژدرها کند ** تا به پاسخ جزو جزوت بر کند
He (God) will make that comparison of thine a dragon, that in answer it may tear thee to pieces.