چون جهان را دید ملکی بی‌قرار ** حازمانه ساخت زان حضرت حصار
Since she deemed the world a kingdom without permanence, she prudently made a fortress of that (Divine) Presence,
تا به گاه مرگ حصنی باشدش ** که نیابد خصم راه مقصدش3710
In order that in the hour of death she should have a stronghold which the Enemy would find no way to attack.
از پناه حق حصاری به ندید ** یورتگه نزدیک آن دز برگزید
She saw no better fortress than the protection of God: she chose her abiding-place near to that castle.
چون بدید آن غمزه‌های عقل‌سوز ** که ازو می‌شد جگرها تیردوز
When she beheld those amorous reason-destroying glances whereby hearts were ever being pierced (as) by arrows—
شاه و لشکر حلقه در گوشش شده ** خسروان هوش بیهوشش شده
King and army are enthralled by Him, the sovereigns of wit (intelligence) are made witless by Him;
صد هزاران شاه مملوکش برق ** صد هزاران بدر را داده به دق
Hundreds of thousands of kings are held in servitude by Him; hundreds of thousands of full-moons He hath given over to (love's) wasting fever;
زهره نی مر زهره را تا دم زند ** عقل کلش چون ببیند کم زند3715
Zuhra hath not the courage to breathe (a word); Universal Reason, when it sees Him, humbles itself.
من چگویم که مرا در دوخته‌ست ** دمگهم را دمگه او سوخته‌ست
What shall I say? for He has sealed my lips: His furnace has consumed the place (channel) of my breath.
دود آن نارم دلیلم من برو ** دور از آن شه باطل ما عبروا
“I am the smoke of that fire, I am the evidence for it”—far from that King be their false interpretation!
خود نباشد آفتابی را دلیل ** جز که نور آفتاب مستطیل
Verily, there is no evidence for a sun except the light of the lofty sun.
سایه کی بود تا دلیل او بود ** این بستش کع ذلیل او بود
Who (what) is the shadow that it should be an evidence for Him? ’Tis enough for it that it should be abased before Him.
این جلالت در دلالت صادقست ** جمله ادراکات پس او سابقست3720
This majesty (which I have attributed to Him) in (the matter of) evidence declares the truth: all perceptions are behind (Him), He is outstripping (them).
جمله ادراکات بر خرهای لنگ ** او سوار باد پران چون خدنگ
All perceptions are (mounted) on lame asses; He is mounted on the wind that flies like an arrow.
گر گریزد کس نیابد گرد شه ** ور گریزند او بگیرد پیش ره
If He flee, none (of them) finds the dust of the King; and if they flee, He bars the way in front (of them).
جمله ادراکات را آرام نی ** وقت میدانست وقت جام نی
All the perceptions are unquiet: it is the time for battle, not the time for the (festal) cup.
آن یکی وهمی چو بازی می‌پرد ** وآن دگر چون تیر معبر می‌درد
One perceptive faculty is flying like a falcon, while another, (swift) as an arrow, is tearing its place of passage;
وان دگر چون کشتی با بادبان ** وآن دگر اندر تراجع هر زمان3725
And another is like a ship with sails, and another is turning back every moment.
چون شکاری می‌نمایدشان ز دور ** جمله حمله می‌فزایند آن طیور
When an object of chase appears to them from afar, all those birds (the perceptions) increase (the speed of) their onset.
چونک ناپیدا شود حیران شوند ** همچو جغدان سوی هر ویران شوند
When it vanishes from sight, they become lost: like owls, they go to every wilderness,
منتظر چشمی به هم یک چشم باز ** تا که پیدا گردد آن صید به ناز
Waiting, with one eye closed and one eye open, that the delectable prey may appear.
چون بماند دیر گویند از ملال ** صید بود آن خود عجب یا خود خیال
When it tarries long, they say (from weariness), “We wonder whether it was a (real) prey or a phantom.”
مصلحت آنست تا یک ساعتی ** قوتی گیرند و زور از راحتی3730
The right course is that, for a short while, they should gather come strength and vigour by (taking) a rest.
گر نبودی شب همه خلقان ز آز ** خویشتن را سوختندی ز اهتزاز
If there were no night, on account of cupidity all people would consume themselves by the agitation (of pursuit).
از هوس وز حرص سود اندوختن ** هر کسی دادی بدن را سوختن
From desire and greed of amassing gain, every one would give his body to be consumed.
شب پدید آید چو گنج رحمتی ** تا رهند ازحرص خود یکساعتی
Night appears, like a treasure of mercy, that they may be delivered from their greed for a short while.