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مبدع آمد حق و مبدع آن بود ** که برآرد فرع بیاصل و سند 1025
- God is the Originator, and an originator is he who produces a branch (derivative) without root (fundamental principle) or support (model).
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مثال عالم هست نیستنما و عالم نیست هستنما
- Parable of the world (really) existent that appears non-existent and the world (really) non-existent that appears existent.
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نیست را بنمود هست و محتشم ** هست را بنمود بر شکل عدم
- He (God) hath caused the non-existent to appear existent and magnificent; He hath caused the existent to appear in the form of non-existence.
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بحر را پوشید و کف کرد آشکار ** باد را پوشید و بنمودت غبار
- He hath concealed the Sea and made the foam visible; He hath concealed the Wind and displayed to thee the dust.
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چون منارهی خاک پیچان در هوا ** خاک از خود چون برآید بر علا
- The dust is whirling in the air, (high) as a minaret: how should the dust rise aloft of itself?
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خاک را بینی به بالا ای علیل ** باد را نی جز به تعریف دلیل
- Thou seest the dust on high, O infirm (of sight): the Wind (thou seest) not, except through knowledge given by induction.
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کف همیبینی روانه هر طرف ** کف بیدریا ندارد منصرف 1030
- Thou seest the foam moving in every direction: without the Sea the foam hath no turning-place.
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کف به حس بینی و دریا از دلیل ** فکر پنهان آشکارا قال و قیل
- Thou seest the foam by sense perception and the Sea by induction: thought is hidden, speech manifest.
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نفی را اثبات میپنداشتیم ** دیدهی معدومبینی داشتیم
- We deemed negation to be affirmation: we had an eye that saw (only) the nonexistent.
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دیدهای که اندر نعاسی شد پدید ** کی تواند جز خیال و نیست دید
- The eye that appeared (came into being) in a state of slumber, how should it be able to see aught but phantasy and non-existence?
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لاجرم سرگشته گشتیم از ضلال ** چون حقیقت شد نهان پیدا خیال
- Necessarily we were bewildered by error, since Reality was hidden and Phantasy visible,
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این عدم را چون نشاند اندر نظر ** چون نهان کرد آن حقیقت از بصر 1035
- (Wondering) why He (God) set up this non-existence in (full) view and why He caused that Reality to be hidden from sight.
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آفرین ای اوستاد سحرباف ** که نمودی معرضان را درد صاف
- Praise (to Thee), O Master-weaver of magic who hast made the dregs to seem pure (wine) to them that turn away (from the Truth).
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ساحران مهتاب پیمایند زود ** پیش بازرگان و زر گیرند سود
- Magicians quickly measure moonbeams in the presence of the merchant and receive gold as profit.
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سیم بربایند زین گون پیچ پیچ ** سیم از کف رفته و کرباس هیچ
- (When) by artful tricks of this sort they take money, the money is gone from his (the purchaser's) hand, (but) there is no linen (to be seen).
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این جهان جادوست ما آن تاجریم ** که ازو مهتاب پیموده خریم
- This world is a sorcerer, and we are the merchants who buy from it the measured moonbeams.
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گز کند کرباس پانصد گز شتاب ** ساحرانه او ز نور ماهتاب 1040
- Magician-like, it hastily measures out by the ell five hundred ells of linen from the light of the moonbeams,
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چون ستد او سیم عمرت ای رهی ** سیم شد کرباس نی کیسه تهی
- (Yet), when it takes the money, (which is) thy life, O slave, the money is gone, there is no linen, and thy purse is empty.
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قل اعوذت خواند باید کای احد ** هین ز نفاثات افغان وز عقد
- Thou must recite Say, I take refuge, crying, “O (Thou who art) One, come, save me from the witches and from (their) knots.
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میدمند اندر گره آن ساحرات ** الغیاث المستغاث از برد و مات
- These sorceresses are blowing on the knots: help, O Thou whose help is besought against (the world's) victory and checkmate.”
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لیک بر خوان از زبان فعل نیز ** که زبان قول سستست ای عزیز
- But invoke (Him) with the tongue of deeds also, for the tongue of words is weak, O honourable man.
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در زمانه مر ترا سه همرهاند ** آن یکی وافی و این دو غدرمند 1045
- In the world thou hast three fellow-travellers: one is faithful and these two (others) are treacherous.
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آن یکی یاران و دیگر رخت و مال ** وآن سوم وافیست و آن حسن الفعال
- One (of the latter) is friends and the other is goods and chattels; and the third (fellow-traveller) is faithful, and that one is excellence in deeds.
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مال ناید با تو بیرون از قصور ** یار آید لیک آید تا به گور
- (Thy) wealth will not come with thee out of thy palaces; (thy) friend will come, but he will come (only) as far as thy grave.
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چون ترا روز اجل آید به پیش ** یار گوید از زبان حال خویش
- When thy day of doom comes to meet thee, thy friend will say (to himself) in the language appropriate to his sentiments,
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تا بدینجا بیش همره نیستم ** بر سر گورت زمانی بیستم
- “(I have come) as far as here: I accompany thee no farther, I will stand a (little) while at thy grave.”