The high value of a treasury is (shown by the circumstance) that there are many locks upon it.
عزت مقصد بود ای ممتحن ** پیچ پیچ راه و عقبه و راه‌زن
The greatness of the (traveller's) goal, O well-tried man, is (shown by) the intricate windings of the way and the mountain-passes and the brigands (infesting them).
عزت کعبه بود و آن نادیه ** ره‌زنی اعراب و طول بادیه
The greatness of the Ka‘ba and its assembly-place is (shown by) the brigandage of the Beduins and the length of the desert (traversed by the pilgrims).
هر روش هر ره که آن محمود نیست ** عقبه‌ای و مانعی و ره‌زنیست 3225
Every (religious) doctrine, every tenet, that is not praiseworthy is (like) a mountain-pass and a barrier and a brigand.
این روش خصم و حقود آن شده ** تا مقلد در دو ره حیران شده
This doctrine has become the adversary and bitter enemy of that, so that the imitator (who adopts the beliefs of others) is in a dilemma;
صدق هر دو ضد بیند در روش ** هر فریقی در ره خود خوش منش
(For) he sees that both the opponents are firm in their doctrine: every sect is pleased with its own path.
گر جوابش نیست می‌بندد ستیز ** بر همان دم تا به روز رستخیز
If it has no reply (to the arguments brought against it), it will cling obstinately to the same formula till the Day of Resurrection,
که مهان ما بدانند این جواب ** گرچه از ما شد نهان وجه صواب
Saying, “Our great authorities know the reply to this, although the right method (of answering) is hidden from us.”
پوزبند وسوسه عشقست و بس ** ورنه کی وسواس را بستست کس 3230
The only muzzle for evil suggestions (of doubt) is Love; else, when has any one (ever) stopped (such) temptation?
Become a lover, seek a fair minion, hunt a waterfowl from river to river.
کی بری زان آب کان آبت برد ** کی کنی زان فهم فهمت را خورد
How will you get water (spirituality) from that one who takes your water away? How will you apprehend (the truth) from that one (who) consumes your (spiritual) apprehension?
غیر این معقولها معقولها ** یابی اندر عشق با فر و بها
In Love, (which is) glorious and resplendent, you will find intelligible things other than these intelligible things.
غیر این عقل تو حق را عقلهاست ** که بدان تدبیر اسباب سماست
To God belong intelligences other than this intelligence of yours, (intelligences) by which the mediate celestial things are ruled;
که بدین عقل آوری ارزاق را ** زان دگر مفرش کنی اطباق را 3235
For by this (individual) intelligence you procure the means of subsistence, (while) by that other (universal intelligence) you make the tiers of Heaven a carpet (under your feet).
چون ببازی عقل در عشق صمد ** عشر امثالت دهد یا هفت‌صد
When you gamble away (sacrifice) your intelligence in love of the Lord, He gives you ten like unto it or seven hundred.
آن زنان چون عقلها درباختند ** بر رواق عشق یوسف تاختند
Those women (of Egypt), when they gambled away (sacrificed) their intelligences, sped onward to the pavilion of Joseph's love.
عقلشان یک‌دم ستد ساقی عمر ** سیر گشتند از خرد باقی مرد
(Love which is) the cupbearer of life took away their intelligence in one moment: they drank their fill of wisdom all the rest of their lives.
اصل صد یوسف جمال ذوالجلال ** ای کم از زن شو فدای آن جمال
The beauty of the Almighty is the source of a hundred Josephs: O you who are less than a woman, devote yourself to that beauty!
عشق برد بحث را ای جان و بس ** کو ز گفت و گو شود فریاد رس 3240
O (dear) soul, Love alone cuts disputation short, for it (alone) comes to the rescue when you cry for help against arguments.
حیرتی آید ز عشق آن نطق را ** زهره نبود که کند او ماجرا
Eloquence is dumbfounded by Love: it dare not engage in altercation;
که بترسد گر جوابی وا دهد ** گوهری از لنج او بیرون فتد
For he (the lover) fears that, if he answer back, a pearl (his inner experience) may fall out of his mouth.
لب ببندد سخت او از خیر و شر ** تا نباید کز دهان افتد گهر
He closes his lips tight against (uttering) good or evil (words) lest the pearl should fall from his mouth (and be lost),
هم‌چنانک گفت آن یار رسول ** چون نبی بر خواندی بر ما فصول
Even as the Companion of the Prophet said, “Whenever the Prophet recited sections (of the Qur’án) to us,
آن رسول مجتبی وقت نثار ** خواستی از ما حضور و صد وقار 3245
At the moment of munificence that chosen Messenger would demand of us attentiveness and a hundred reverences.”
آنچنان که بر سرت مرغی بود ** کز فواتش جان تو لرزان شود
’Tis as when a bird is (perched) on your head, and your soul trembles for fear of its flitting,