Make the scent of Joseph's shirt thy stay, because his scent makes the eye clear.
صورت پنهان و آن نور جبین ** کرده چشم انبیا را دوربین
The hidden Form and the Light of that Brow have made the eyes of the prophets far-seeing.
نور آن رخسار برهاند ز نار ** هین مشو قانع به نور مستعار
The Light of that Countenance will deliver (thee) from the fire: hark, be not content with borrowed light.
چشم را این نور حالی‌بین کند ** جسم و عقل و روح را گرگین کند
This (borrowed) light makes the eye to see that which is transient: it makes body and mind and spirit to be scabby (diseased).
صورتش نورست و در تحقیق نار ** گر ضیا خواهی دو دست از وی بدار3225
It has the appearance of light, but in reality it is fire: keep thy hands off it, if thou desire the (true) radiance.
دم به دم در رو فتد هر جا رود ** دیده و جانی که حالی‌بین بود
The eye and spirit that sees (only) the transient falls on its face continually wherever it goes.
دور بیند دوربین بی‌هنر ** هم‌چنانک دور دیدن خواب در
A far-seeing man who lacks knowledge may see far, just as (one has) far sight in dreams.
خفته باشی بر لب جو خشک‌لب ** می‌دوی سوی سراب اندر طلب
You are asleep with parched lips on the bank of the river, and (in your dream) are running in search of water towards the mirage.
دور می‌بینی سراب و می‌دوی ** عاشق آن بینش خود می‌شوی
You see the mirage far away and run (towards it): you become in love with your own sight.
می‌زنی در خواب با یاران تو لاف ** که منم بینادل و پرده‌شکاف3230
In the dream you boast to your friends, saying, “I am the one whose heart possesses vision, and (I am) the one that rends the veil.
نک بدان سو آب دیدم هین شتاب ** تا رویم آنجا و آن باشد سراب
Lo, I see water yonder: hark, make haste that we may go there”—and ’tis (only) the mirage.
هر قدم زین آب تازی دورتر ** دو دوان سوی سراب با غرر
At every step you hurry farther away from the water, whilst you keep running on towards the perilous mirage.
عین آن عزمت حجاب این شده ** که به تو پیوسته است و آمده
Your very setting-out has become the barrier (which prevents you) from (seeing) this that has come close to you.
بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار3235
The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.
خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
(Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز3240
The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.