بر مشوران تا شود این آب صاف ** واندرو بین ماه و اختر در طواف
Do not stir it up (befoul it): let this water become clear, and (then) behold the moon and stars circling therein.
زانک مردم هست همچون آب جو ** چون شود تیره نبینی قعر او
For man is like the water of the river: when it becomes turbid, thou canst not see its bottom.
قعر جو پر گوهرست و پر ز در ** هین مکن تیره که هست او صاف حر
The bottom of the river is full of jewels and full of pearls: take heed, do not make (the water) turbid, for it is (originally) pure and free (from pollution).
جان مردم هست مانند هوا ** چون بگرد آمیخت شد پردهی سما
The spirit of man resembles air: when it (air) is mixed with dust, it veils the sky,
مانع آید او ز دید آفتاب ** چونک گردش رفت شد صافی و ناب2485
And prevents (the eye) from seeing the sun; (but) when its dust is gone, it becomes pure and undefiled.
با کمال تیرگی حق واقعات ** مینمودت تا روی راه نجات
Notwithstanding thy complete darkness, God was showing visions unto thee, that thou might’st wend the way of deliverance.
باز گفتن موسی علیهالسلام اسرار فرعون را و واقعات او را ظهر الغیب تابخبیری حق ایمان آورد یا گمان برد
How Moses, on whom be peace, declared (by inspiration) from the Unseen the secret thoughts and visions of Pharaoh, in order that he might truly believe in the omniscience of God or (at least) hold that opinion.
ز آهن تیره بقدرت مینمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود
From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,
تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همیدیدی و بتر میشدی
In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.
نقشهای زشت خوابت مینمود ** میرمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود
He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;
همچو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید2490
Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]
که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس
Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.
این حدث بر روی زشتت میکنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی
Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’
گاه میدیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته
At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;
گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده
Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;
Perchance the lock of my hundred maunds' weight of unbelief may be opened by those fair and desirable promises.
بوک از تاثیر جوی انگبین ** شهد گردد در تنم این زهر کین
Perchance, by the effect of the river of honey, this poison of hatred may be turned into honey in my body;
یا ز عکس جوی آن پاکیزه شیر ** پرورش یابد دمی عقل اسیر
Or by the reflexion of the river of that pure milk, (my) captive intelligence may be nourished for a moment;
یا بود کز عکس آن جوهای خمر ** مست گردم بو برم از ذوق امر
Or perchance, by the reflexion of those rivers of wine, I may be intoxicated and obtain a scent of the delight of (obedience to) the (Divine) command;
یا بود کز لطف آن جوهای آب ** تازگی یابد تن شورهی خراب2520
Or perchance, by the favour of those rivers of water, my barren devastated body may gain refreshment—
شورهام را سبزهای پیدا شود ** خارزارم جنت ماوی شود
Some verdure may appear on my barren soil, my thorn-brake may become the Garden of (everlasting) abode;
بوک از عکس بهشت و چار جو ** جان شود از یاری حق یارجو
Perchance, by the reflexion of Paradise and the four rivers, my spirit, through God's befriending (it), may become a seeker of the Friend,
آنچنان که از عکس دوزخ گشتهام ** آتش و در قهر حق آغشتهام
In the same fashion as from the reflexion of Hell I have become fire and am steeped in the wrath of God.
گه ز عکس مار دوزخ همچو مار ** گشتهام بر اهل جنت زهربار
At one moment, from the reflexion of the snake of Hell I have become (engaged in) dropping poison, like a snake, on those who shall dwell in Paradise;
گه ز عکس جوشش آب حمیم ** آب ظلمم کرده خلقان را رمیم2525
At another time, from the reflexion of the boiling of the hot water (of Hell), the water of my oppression has made the people (like) rotten bones.
من ز عکس زمهریرم زمهریر ** یا ز عکس آن سعیرم چون سعیر
From the reflexion of the zamharír (intense cold of Hell) I am (as) the zamharír; or from the reflexion of the sa‘ír (flames of Hell) I am as the sa‘ír.