مولعیم اندر سخنهای دقیق ** در گرهها باز کردن ما عشیق
We are much addicted to subtle discussions, we are exceedingly fond of solving problems;
تا گره بندیم و بگشاییم ما ** در شکال و در جواب آیین فزا
And to the end that we may tie knots and (then) undo them, (we are) making many rules for (posing and stating) the difficulty and for answering (the questions raised by it),
همچو مرغی کاو گشاید بند دام ** گاه بندد تا شود در فن تمام3735
Like a bird which should undo the fastenings of a snare, and tie (them together) at times, in order that it might become perfect in skill:
او بود محروم از صحرا و مرج ** عمر او اندر گره کاری است خرج
It is deprived of the open country and meadowland, its life is spent in dealing with knots;
خود زبون او نگردد هیچ دام ** لیک پرش در شکست افتد مدام
And even (then) the snare is nowise subdued by it, but its wings are always getting broken.
با گره کم کوش تا بال و پرت ** نگسلد یک یک از این کر و فرت
Do not struggle with knots, lest thy wings and feathers be snapped asunder one by one through this vain display (of effort) on thy part.
صد هزاران مرغ پرهاشان شکست ** و آن کمین گاه عوارض را نبست
Myriads of birds have had their wings broken, and have not stopped that calamitous ambuscade (from doing its work).
حال ایشان از نبی خوان ای حریص ** نقبوا فیها ببین هل من محیص3740
Read in the Qur’án (concerning) their state, O covetous one: —They explored (and wandered) in them (the lands of the earth); mark (the words), Was there any refuge?
از نزاع ترک و رومی و عرب ** حل نشد اشکال انگور و عنب
The difficulty over angúr and ‘inab was not solved by the contest between the Turk, the Greek, and the Arab.
تا سلیمان لسین معنوی ** در نیاید بر نخیزد این دوی
Until the spiritual Solomon, skilled in tongues, shall intervene, this duality will not disappear.
جمله مرغان منازع بازوار ** بشنوید این طبل باز شهریار
O all ye wrangling birds, hearken, like the falcon, to this falcon-drum of the King.
ز اختلاف خویش سوی اتحاد ** هین ز هر جانب روان گردید شاد
Hark, from every quarter set out with joy, (flying away) from your diversity towards oneness.
حیث ما کنتم فولوا وجهکم ** نحوه هذا الذی لم ینهکم3745
Wheresoever ye be, turn your faces towards it: this is the thing which He hath not forbidden unto you (at any time).
کور مرغانیم و بس ناساختیم ** کان سلیمان را دمی نشناختیم
Blind birds are we and very inept, in that we have not once recognised that Solomon.
The bird that goes without this Solomon is in love with darkness, like a bat.
با سلیمان خو کن ای خفاش رد ** تا که در ظلمت نمانی تا ابد
Make thyself familiar with Solomon, O reprobate bat, in order that thou mayst not remain in darkness for ever.
یک گزی ره که بدان سو میروی ** همچو گز قطب مساحت میشوی
When thou goest one ell's length in that direction, like the ell thou wilt become the standard of measurement;
و انکه لنگ و لوک آن سو میجهی ** از همه لنگی و لوکی میرهی3765
And (even by) thy hopping lamely and limply in that direction, thou wilt be freed from all lameness and limpness.
قصهی بط بچگان که مرغ خانگی پروردشان
The story of the ducklings which were fostered by a domestic fowl.
تخم بطی گر چه مرغ خانهات ** کرد زیر پر چو دایه تربیت
Thou art the offspring of a duck, though a domestic fowl has fostered thee as a nurse beneath her wing.
مادر تو بط آن دریا بدهست ** دایهات خاکی بد و خشکی پرست
Thy mother was the duck of that Sea; thy nurse was of the earth and devoted to the dry land.
میل دریا که دل تو اندر است ** آن طبیعت جانت را از مادر است
The desire which is in thy heart for the Sea—thy soul hath that nature (instinct) from thy mother.
میل خشکی مر ترا زین دایه است ** دایه را بگذار کاو بد رایه است
The desire thou hast for the dry land is from this nurse. Leave the nurse, for she is an evil counsellor.
دایه را بگذار در خشک و بران ** اندر آن در بحر معنی چون بطان3770
Leave the nurse on the dry land, and press on: come into the Sea of spiritual reality, like the ducks.
گر ترا مادر بترساند ز آب ** تو مترس و سوی دریا ران شتاب
(Even) if thy mother should bid thee be afraid of the water, fear not thou, but push speedily into the Sea.
تو بطی بر خشک و بر تر زندهای ** نی چو مرغ خانه خانه کندهای
Thou art a duck: thou art one that lives (both) on dry and wet; thou art not one like the domestic fowl, whose house is ill-smelling.
تو ز کرمنا بنی آدم شهی ** هم به خشکی هم به دریا پا نهی
Thou art a king in virtue of (the text), We have ennobled the sons of Adam: thou settest foot both on the dry land and on the Sea.
که حملناهم علی البحری به جان ** از حملناهم علی البر پیش ران
For in spirit thou art (what is signified by the text), We have conveyed them on the Sea: push forward (then) from (the state implied in the words), We have conveyed them on the land.
مر ملایک را سوی بر راه نیست ** جنس حیوان هم ز بحر آگاه نیست3775
The angels have no access to the land; the animal kind, again, are ignorant of the Sea.
تو به تن حیوان به جانی از ملک ** تا روی هم بر زمین هم بر فلک
Thou in (thy) body art an animal, and in (thy) spirit thou art of the angels, so that thou mayst walk on the earth and also in the sky;
تا به ظاهر مثلکم باشد بشر ** با دل یوحی إلیه دیدهور
So that the seer with heart divinely inspired may be, in appearance, a man like yourselves.
قالب خاکی فتاده بر زمین ** روح آن گردان بر این چرخ برین
His body of dust (is here), fallen upon the earth; (but) his spirit (is) circling in this highest sphere (of Heaven).
ما همه مرغابیانیم ای غلام ** بحر میداند زبان ما تمام
We all are water-birds, O lad: the Sea fully knows our language.
پس سلیمان بحر آمد ما چو طیر ** در سلیمان تا ابد داریم سیر3780
Therefore the Sea is (our) Solomon, and we are as the birds (familiar with Solomon): in Solomon we move unto everlasting.
با سلیمان پای در دریا بنه ** تا چو داود آب سازد صد زره
With Solomon set thy foot in the Sea, that the water, David-like, may make a hundred rings of mail (ripples).
آن سلیمان پیش جمله حاضر است ** لیک غیرت چشم بند و ساحر است
That Solomon is present to all, but (His) jealousy binds (our) eyes (with spells) and enchants (us),