میش مشغولست در مرعای خویش ** لیک چوپان واقفست از حال میش
The sheep are busy in their pasture, but the shepherd knows all about the sheep.
کلکم راع بداند از رمه ** کی علف‌خوارست و کی در ملحمه 4395
(Any one of those of whom the Prophet said), “Each of you is a shepherd,” knows which of the flock is feeding and which is (engaged) in combat.
گرچه در صورت از آن صف دور بود ** لیک چون دف در میان سور بود
Although apparently he was far from those ranks, yet he was (in their midst) like the tambourine at a wedding-feast.
واقف از سوز و لهیب آن وفود ** مصلحت آن بد که خشک آورده بود
(He was) well acquainted with the burning and flaming (passion) of those who came to his court, (but) in his wisdom he had ignored them and kept silence.
در میان جانشان بود آن سمی ** لک قاصد کرده خود را اعجمی
That exalted (monarch) was in the midst (depths) of their souls, but he had purposely feigned to be unfamiliar (with them).
صورت آتش بود پایان دیگ ** معنی آتش بود در جان دیگ
The form (appearance) of the fire is beneath the kettle; the spirit (reality) of the fire is in the soul of the kettle.
صورتش بیرون و معنیش اندرون ** معنی معشوق جان در رگ چو خون 4400
Its form is outside and its spirit inside: the spirit (real nature) of the soul's Beloved is (in the soul) like blood in the veins.
شاه‌زاده پیش شه زانو زده ** ده معرف شارح حالش شده
The prince knelt before the King, (while) ten announcers gave a description of his state.
گرچه شه عارف بد از کل پیش پیش ** لیک می‌کردی معرف کار خویش
Although the King knew it all long ago, yet the announcer was performing the duties of his office.
در درون یک ذره نور عارفی ** به بود از صد معرف ای صفی
O sincere man, a single atom of the light of (mystic) knowledge within (thee) is better than a hundred announcers.
گوش را رهن معرف داشتن ** آیت محجوبیست و حزر و ظن
To confine one's attention to the announcer is a mark of being debarred (from access to real knowledge) and of (being preoccupied with) conjecture and (mere) opinion.
آنک او را چشم دل شد دیدبان ** دید خواهد چشم او عین العیان 4405
He whose scout is his inward eye—his eye will behold with the very acme of clairvoyance.
با تواتر نیست قانع جان او ** بل ز چشم دل رسد ایقان او
His soul is not content with traditional authority; nay, his feeling of (absolute) certainty comes from the inward eye.
پس معرف پیش شاه منتجب ** در بیان حال او بگشود لب
Then the announcer opened his lips to describe his (the eldest brother's) plight in the presence of the elect King.
گفت شاها صید احسان توست ** پادشاهی کن که بی بیرون شوست
He said, “O King, he is fallen a prey to thy beneficence: show kingly favour (to him), for he has no means of escape.
دست در فتراک این دولت زدست ** بر سر سرمست او بر مال دست
He has clutched the saddle-strap of this empire: stroke his distraught head with thy (royal) hand!”
گفت شه هر منصبی و ملکتی ** که التماسش هست یابد این فتی 4410
The King replied, “This youth will obtain (from me) every high dignity and sovereignty that he seeks.
بیست چندان ملک کو شد زان بری ** بخشمش اینجا و ما خود بر سری
I will bestow on him here (and now) twenty times as many kingdoms as he has relinquished, and myself into the bargain.”
گفت تا شاهیت در وی عشق کاشت ** جز هوای تو هوایی کی گذاشت
He (the announcer) said, “Since thy royal majesty sowed in him the seed of love, how could it leave (in him) any passion except passion for thee?
بندگی تش چنان درخورد شد ** که شهی اندر دل او سرد شد
’Tis so agreeable to him to be thy slave that kingship has become cold comfort to his heart.
شاهی و شه‌زادگی در باختست ** از پی تو در غریبی ساختست
He has gambled away kingship and princedom: for thy sake he has put up with living in exile.
صوفیست انداخت خرقه وجد در ** کی رود او بر سر خرقه دگر 4415
He is a Súfí: he has flung away his mantle in ecstasy: how should he turn again to his mantle?
میل سوی خرقه‌ی داده و ندم ** آنچنان باشد که من مغبون شدم
To hanker for the given away mantle and repent (of having given it) is as much as to say, ‘I have been swindled:
باز ده آن خرقه این سو ای قرین ** که نمی‌ارزید آن یعنی بدین
Put the mantle back here, O comrade, for that (ecstasy) was not worth it, that is, (not worth) this (mantle).’
دور از عاشق که این فکر آیدش ** ور بیاید خاک بر سر بایدش
Far be it from a lover that such a thought should occur to him; and if it do, dust ought to be (sprinkled) on his head.