عقل او را آزمودم بارها ** کرد پیری آن جوان در کارها
Often have I tested his understanding: that youth has shown (the ripe experience of) age in (handling) affairs.
پیر پیر عقل باشد ای پسر ** نه سپیدی موی اندر ریش و سر
O son, the (really) old is the old in understanding: ‘tis not whiteness of the hair in the beard and on the head.
از بلیس او پیرتر خود کی بود ** چونک عقلش نیست او لاشی بود
How should he (any old man) be older than Iblís? When he lacks understanding, he is good-for-naught.
طفل گیرش چون بود عیسی نفس ** پاک باشد از غرور و از هوس2165
Suppose he is a child: (what matter) when he hath the (life-giving) breath of Jesus (and) is purged of vainglory and vain desire?
آن سپیدی مو دلیل پختگیست ** پیش چشم بسته کش کوته‌تگیست
That whiteness of hair is a proof of maturity to the bandaged eye that hath little penetration.
آن مقلد چون نداند جز دلیل ** در علامت جوید او دایم سبیل
Since the blind imitator recognises nothing but (an external) proof, he continually seeks the way (to the truth) in the (out ward) sign.
بهر او گفتیم که تدبیر را ** چونک خواهی کرد بگزین پیر را
For his sake we have said, ‘When you wish to plan (anything), choose an elder (to advise you).’
آنک او از پرده‌ی تقلید جست ** او به نور حق ببیند آنچ هست
He who has escaped from the purdah of blind imitation sees by the light of God that which (really) is.
نور پاکش بی‌دلیل و بی‌بیان ** پوست بشکافد در آید در میان2170
Without proof and without exposition the pure Light cleaves its (the object’s) skin and enters into the middle (the core).
پیش ظاهربین چه قلب و چه سره ** او چه داند چیست اندر قوصره
To one who regards (only) the appearance, what is (the difference between) the adulterated and genuine coin? How should he know what is in the date-basket?
ای بسا زر سیه کرده بدود ** تا رهد از دست هر دزدی حسود
Oh, there is much gold made black with smoke, that it may be saved from (falling into) the hands of every envious thief.
ای بسا مس زر اندوده به زر ** تا فروشد آن به عقل مختصر
Oh, there is much copper gilded with gold, that he (the counterfeiter) may sell it to (those of) small understanding.
ما که باطن‌بین جمله‌ی کشوریم ** دل ببینیم و به ظاهر ننگریم
We, who see the inward (reality) of the whole world, see the heart and look not on the outward form.”
قاضیانی که به ظاهر می‌تنند ** حکم بر اشکال ظاهر می‌کنند2175
The cadis who are concerned with the outward form (the letter of the law) give judgement according to outward appearances.
چون شهادت گفت و ایمانی نمود ** حکم او مومن کنند این قوم زود
When he (the suspected person) has uttered the profession of the Faith and has shown some (formal sign of) true belief, at once these people (the cadis) pronounce him a true believer.
بس منافق کاندرین ظاهر گریخت ** خون صد مومن به پنهانی بریخت
There is many a hypocrite who has taken refuge in this out ward form and has shed the blood of a hundred true believers in secret.
جهد کن تا پیر عقل و دین شوی ** تا چو عقل کل تو باطن‌بین شوی
Endeavour to become old in intelligence and religion, that you may become, like the Universal Intelligence, a seer of the in ward (reality).
از عدم چون عقل زیبا رو گشاد ** خلعتش داد و هزارش نام داد
When the beauteous Intelligence unveiled its face (revealed itself) from non-existence, He (God) gave it a robe of honour and a thousand names.
کمترین زان نامهای خوش‌نفس ** این که نبود هیچ او محتاج کس2180
Of those sweet-breathing names the least is this, that it (the Intelligence) is not in need of any one.
گر به صورت وا نماید عقل رو ** تیره باشد روز پیش نور او
If the Intelligence display its face in visible form, day will be dark beside its light;
ور مثال احمقی پیدا شود ** ظلمت شب پیش او روشن بود
And if the shape of foolishness become visible, beside it the darkness of night will be radiant,
کو ز شب مظلم‌تر و تاری‌ترست ** لیک خفاش شقی ظلمت‌خرست
For it is darker and more murky than night; but the miserable bat is a buyer (seeker) of darkness.
اندک اندک خوی کن با نور روز ** ورنه خفاشی بمانی بیفروز
Little by little accustom yourself to the daylight, else you will remain a bat deprived of splendour.
عاشق هر جا شکال و مشکلیست ** دشمن هر جا چراغ مقبلیست2185
He (the bat-like person) is the lover of every place where there is difficulty and perplexing doubt, and the enemy of every place where there is the lamp of (spiritual) felicity
ظلمت اشکال زان جوید دلش ** تا که افزون‌تر نماید حاصلش
His heart seeks the darkness of perplexity in order that his acquirements may seem greater (than they are),