ساحری صحن برنجی را به فن ** صحن پر کرمی کند در انجمن
A magician by his art makes a dish of rice (appear to be) a dish full of (tiny) worms in the assembly;
خانه را او پر ز کزدمها نمود ** از دم سحر و خود آن کزدم نبود
(Or) by the breath (power) of magic he has caused a room to appear full of scorpions, though in truth there were no scorpions.
چونک جادو می‌نماید صد چنین ** چون بود دستان جادوآفرین
When sorcery produces a hundred such illusions, how (much greater) must be the cunning of the Creator of sorcery?
لاجرم از سحر یزدان قرن قرن ** اندر افتادند چون زن زیر پهن
Of necessity, through the magic of God generation after generation have fallen down (been vanquished), like a woman (lying) flat beneath (sub marito). [Of necessity, through the magic of God generation after generation have fallen down (been vanquished), like a woman (lying) flat beneath (under her husband).]
ساحرانشان بنده بودند و غلام ** اندر افتادند چون صعوه به دام 450
Their magicians were slaves and servants, and fell into the trap (of Divine cunning) like wagtails.
Hark, read the Qur’án and behold lawful magic (in) the overthrow of plots (huge) as the mountains.
من نیم فرعون کایم سوی نیل ** سوی آتش می‌روم من چون خلیل
“I am not (like) Pharaoh that I should come to the Nile; I am going towards the fire, like Khalíl (Abraham).
نیست آتش هست آن ماء معین ** وآن دگر از مکر آب آتشین
’Tis not fire; (in reality) ’tis flowing water, (while) the other, through (Divine) cunning, is water whereof the (real) nature is fire.
پس نکو گفت آن رسول خوش‌جواز ** ذره‌ای عقلت به از صوم و نماز
Excellently well said the complaisant Prophet, “A mote of intelligence is better for thee than fasting and performing the ritual prayer,”
زانک عقلت جوهرست این دو عرض ** این دو در تکمیل آن شد مفترض 455
Because thy intelligence is the substance, (whereas) these two (things) are accidents: these two are made obligatory in (the case of persons who possess) the full complement of it,
تا جلا باشد مر آن آیینه را ** که صفا آید ز طاعت سینه را
In order that the mirror (intelligence) may have (a bright) lustre; for purity comes to the breast (heart) from piety.
لیک گر آیینه از بن فاسدست ** صیقل او را دیر باز آرد به دست
But if the mirror is fundamentally depraved, (only) after a long time does the polisher get it back (to purity);
وان گزین آیینه که خوش مغرس است ** اندکی صیقل گری آن را بس است
While (in the case of) the fine mirror, which is (like) a goodly planting-ground, a little polishing is enough for it.
تفاوت عقول در اصل فطرت خلاف معتزله کی ایشان گویند در اصل عقول جز وی برابرند این افزونی و تفاوت از تعلم است و ریاضت و تجربه
The diversity of intelligences in their nature as originally created; (a doctrine) opposed to (that of) the Mu‘tazilites, who assert that particular (individual) intelligences are originally equal, and that this superiority and diversity is the result of learning and training and experience.
این تفاوت عقلها را نیک دان ** در مراتب از زمین تا آسمان
Know well that intelligences differ thus in degree from the earth to the sky.
هست عقلی هم‌چو قرص آفتاب ** هست عقلی کمتر از زهره و شهاب 460
There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor.
هست عقلی چون چراغی سرخوشی ** هست عقلی چون ستاره‌ی آتشی
There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,
زانک ابر از پیش آن چون وا جهد ** نور یزدان‌بین خردها بر دهد
Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.
عقل جزوی عقل را بدنام کرد ** کام دنیا مرد را بی‌کام کرد
The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).
آن ز صیدی حسن صیادی بدید ** وین ز صیادی غم صیدی کشید
That (universal intelligence), through being a prey (to God), beheld the beauty of the (Divine) Hunting, while this (particular intelligence), through being a hunter (of worldly goods), suffered the pain of being a prey (to perdition).
آن ز خدمت ناز مخدومی بیافت ** وآن ز مخدومی ز راه عز بتافت 465
The former, through service, gained the pride of lordship, while the latter, through lordship, turned from the path of glory.
آن ز فرعونی اسیر آب شد ** وز اسیری سبط صد سهراب شد
The latter, through being a Pharaoh, was taken captive by the water (of perdition), while the Israelites, through captivity, became (mighty as) a hundred Suhrábs.
لعب معکوسست و فرزین‌بند سخت ** حیله کم کن کار اقبالست و بخت
’Tis a topsy-turvy game and a terrible quandary; do not try (to escape by) cunning: ’tis (all) a matter of (Divine) favour and fortune.
بر حیال و حیله کم تن تار را ** که غنی ره کم دهد مکار را
Do not weave plots in vain imagination and cunning; for the Self-sufficient One does not give way to the contriver.
مکر کن در راه نیکو خدمتی ** تا نبوت یابی اندر امتی
Contrive, in the way of (by following the guidance of) one who serves (God) well, that you may gain the position of a prophet in a religious community.
مکر کن تا وا رهی از مکر خود ** مکر کن تا فرد گردی از جسد 470
Contrive that you may be delivered from your own contrivance; contrive that you may become detached from the body.