احسن التقویم از عرش او فزون ** احسن التقویم از فکرت برون
(That spirit created) in the best proportion surpasses the empyrean: (that spirit created) in the best proportion is beyond (the range of) thought.
گر بگویم قیمت این ممتنع ** من بسوزم هم بسوزد مستمع
If I declare the value of this inaccessible (pearl), I shall be consumed, and the hearer too will be consumed.
لب ببند اینجا و خر این سو مران ** رفت این صدیق سوی آن خران
At this point close thy lips and proceed no further. This Siddíq went to those asses (the Jews).
حلقه در زد چو در را بر گشود ** رفت بی‌خود در سرای آن جهود
He knocked the door-ring, and when the Jew opened the door he (the Siddíq) went into his house, beside himself (with indignation).
بی‌خود و سرمست و پر آتش نشست ** از دهانش بس کلام تلخ جست 1010
He sat down, beside himself and furious and full of fire: from his mouth leaped many bitter words—
کین ولی الله را چون می‌زنی ** این چه حقدست ای عدو روشنی
“Why art thou beating this friend of God? What hatred is this, O enemy of the Light?
گر ترا صدقیست اندر دین خود ** ظلم بر صادق دلت چون می‌دهد
If thou art steadfast in thy own religion, how is thy heart consenting to maltreat him who is steadfast (in his religion)?
ای تو در دین جهودی ماده‌ای ** کین گمان داری تو بر شه‌زاده‌ای
O thou effeminate in Judaism, who dost impute this (same effeminacy) to a (spiritual) prince!
در همه ز آیینه‌ی کژساز خود ** منگر ای مردود نفرین ابد
Do not view all (things) in the distorting mirror of thy selfhood, O thou who art banned with an everlasting curse!”
آنچ آن دم از لب صدیق جست ** گر بگویم گم کنی تو پای و دست 1015
If I should tell what burst from the lips of the Siddíq at that moment, you would lose (both) foot and hand.
آن ینابیع الحکم هم‌چون فرات ** از دهان او دوان از بی‌جهات
(Coming) from (the world) beyond spatial relations, the fountains of wisdom (copious) as the Euphrates were running from his mouth,
هم‌چو از سنگی که آبی شد روان ** نه ز پهلو مایه دارد نه از میان
As from the rock whence gushed a (great) water, (the rock) having no source of supply in (its own) side or interior;
اسپر خود کرده حق آن سنگ را ** بر گشاده آب مینارنگ را
(For) God made that rock a shield (veil) for Himself and opened (a way for) the blue crystalline water,
هم‌چنانک از چشمه‌ی چشم تو نور ** او روان کردست بی‌بخل و فتور
Even as He hath caused the light to flow from the fountain of your eye without stint or abatement:
نه ز پیه آن مایه دارد نه ز پوست ** روی‌پوشی کرد در ایجاد دوست 1020
It has no source of supply either in the fat (the white of the eye) or in the coating (retina); (but) the Beloved made (these) a veil (for Himself) when bringing (the light) into existence.
در خلای گوش باد جاذبش ** مدرک صدق کلام و کاذبش
The attracting air in the cavity of the ear apprehends that which is spoken, (whether) true or false.
آن چه بادست اندر آن خرد استخوان ** کو پذیرد حرف و صوت قصه‌خوان
What is that air within that little bone, (that air) which receives the words and sounds uttered by the story-teller?
استخوان و باد روپوشست و بس ** در دو عالم غیر یزدان نیست کس
The bone and the air are only a veil: in the two worlds there is none except God.
مستمع او قایل او بی‌احتجاب ** زانک الاذنان من الراس ای مثاب
He is the hearer, He is the speaker, (whom mystics behold) unveiled; for the ears belong to the head, O you who have merited the Divine recompense.
He (the Jew) said, “If thou art feeling pity for him, give (me) gold and take him (in exchange), O man of generous disposition.
از منش وا خر چو می‌سوزد دلت ** بی‌منت حل نگردد مشکلت
Since thy heart is burning (with sympathy), ransom him from me: thy difficulty will not be solved without expense.”
گفت صد خدمت کنم پانصد سجود ** بنده‌ای دارم تن اسپید و جهود
He replied, “I will perform a hundred services (on his behalf) and five hundred prostrations (in thanksgiving for success). I have a handsome slave, but (he is) a Jew;
تن سپید و دل سیاهستش بگیر ** در عوض ده تن سیاه و دل منیر
He has a white body, but a black heart: take (him), and give (me) in exchange that one whose body is black but whose heart is illumined.”
پس فرستاد و بیاورد آن همام ** بود الحق سخت زیبا آن غلام
Then the chieftain (Abú Bakr) sent (a messenger) to fetch him: in sooth that slave was exceedingly comely,
آنچنان که ماند حیران آن جهود ** آن دل چون سنگش از جا رفت زود 1030
So that the Jew was dumbfounded: at once his stony heart inclined (towards him).