بر لب بام ایستاده قوم خوش ** هر یکی را بر زمین بین سایه‌اش
(For example, when) happy folk (are) standing on the edge of a roof, observe the shadow of each one on the ground.
صورت فکرست بر بام مشید ** وآن عمل چون سایه بر ارکان پدید 3730
The form of thought is on the lofty roof (of the spirit), while the (resultant) action appears, like a shadow, on the pillars (bodily limbs).
فعل بر ارکان و فکرت مکتتم ** لیک در تاثیر و وصلت دو به هم
The action is (manifested) on the pillars, while the thought (that produces it) is concealed; but the two are combined in the correlation of cause and effect.
آن صور در بزم کز جام خوشیست ** فایده‌ی او بی‌خودی و بیهشیست
The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.
صورت مرد و زن و لعب و جماع ** فایده‌ش بی‌هوشی وقت وقاع
The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—hinc nascitur perturbatio animi in coitu. [The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—their result at the time of sexual union (is mental) distraction.]
صورت نان و نمک کان نعمتست ** فایده‌ش آن قوت بی‌صورتست
The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.
در مصاف آن صورت تیغ و سپر ** فایده‌ش بی‌صورتی یعنی ظفر 3735
On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory.
مدرسه و تعلیق و صورت‌های وی ** چون به دانش متصل شد گشت طی
(Attendance at) college and learning and the (various) forms thereof are (all) done with, as soon as they have reached (their goal, namely) knowledge.
این صور چون بنده‌ی بی‌صورتند ** پس چرا در نفی صاحب‌نعمتند
Since these forms are the slaves of the Formless, why, then, are they denying their Benefactor?
این صور دارد ز بی‌صورت وجود ** چیست پس بر موجد خویشش جحود
These forms have their existence from the Formless: what means, then, their denial of Him who brought them into existence?
خود ازو یابد ظهور انکار او ** نیست غیر عکس خود این کار او
His (the sceptic's) disbelief is really manifested by Him: in truth this act of his is naught but a reflexion.
صورت دیوار و سقف هر مکان ** سایه‌ی اندیشه‌ی معمار دان 3740
Know that the form of the walls and roof of every dwelling-place is a shadow (reflexion) of the thought of the architect,
گرچه خود اندر محل افتکار ** نیست سنگ و چوب و خشتی آشکار
Even though in the seat of his thought there is no visible (material) stone and wood and brick.
فاعل مطلق یقین بی‌صورتست ** صورت اندر دست او چون آلتست
Assuredly the Absolute Agent is formless: form is as a tool in His hand.
گه گه آن بی‌صورت از کتم عدم ** مر صور را رو نماید از کرم
Sometimes the Formless One graciously shows His face to the forms from the concealment (veil) of non-existence,
تا مدد گیرد ازو هر صورتی ** از کمال و از جمال و قدرتی
In order that every form may thereby be replenished with some perfection and beauty and power.
باز بی‌صورت چو پنهان کرد رو ** آمدند از بهر کد در رنگ و بو 3745
When, again, the Formless One has hidden His face, they come to beg in (the realm of) colour and perfume.
صورتی از صورت دیگر کمال ** گر بجوید باشد آن عین ضلال
If one form seek perfection from another form, ’tis the quintessence of error.
پس چه عرضه می‌کنی ای بی‌گهر ** احتیاج خود به محتاجی دگر
Why, then, O worthless man, are you submitting your need to another needy (creature)?
چون صور بنده‌ست بر یزدان مگو ** ظن مبر صورت به تشبیهش مجو
Inasmuch as (all) forms are slaves (to God), do not say or deem that form is applicable to God: do not seek Him by tashbíh (likening Him to His creatures).
در تضرع جوی و در افنای خویش ** کز تفکر جز صور ناید به پیش
Seek (Him) in self-abasement and in self-extinction, for nothing but forms is produced by thinking.
ور ز غیر صورتت نبود فره ** صورتی کان بی‌تو زاید در تو به 3750
And if you derive no advantage (comfort) except from form, (then) the form that comes to birth within you involuntarily is the best.
صورت شهری که آنجا می‌روی ** ذوق بی‌صورت کشیدت ای روی
(Suppose it is) the form of a city to which you are going: you are drawn (thither) by a formless feeling of pleasure, O dependent one;
پس به معنی می‌روی تا لامکان ** که خوشی غیر مکانست و زمان
Therefore you are really going to that which has no locality, for pleasure is (something) different from place and time.
صورت یاری که سوی او شوی ** از برای مونسی‌اش می‌روی
(Suppose it is) the form of a friend to whom you would go: you are going for the sake of enjoying his society;
پس بمعنی سوی بی‌صورت شدی ** گرچه زان مقصود غافل آمدی
Therefore in reality you go to the formless (world), though you are unaware of that (being the) object (of your journey).
پس حقیقت حق بود معبود کل ** کز پی ذوقست سیران سبل 3755
In truth, then, God is worshipped by all, since (all) wayfaring is for the sake of the pleasure (of which He is the source).
لیک بعضی رو سوی دم کرده‌اند ** گرچه سر اصلست سر گم کرده‌اند
But some have set their face towards the tail and have lost the Head, although the Head is the principal;
لیک آن سر پیش این ضالان گم ** می‌دهد داد سری از راه دم
But (nevertheless) that Head is bestowing on these lost and erring ones the bounty proper to Headship by way of the tail.
آن ز سر می‌یابد آن داد این ز دم ** قوم دیگر پا و سر کردند گم
That one obtains the bounty from the Head, this one from the tail; another company (of mystics) have lost (both) foot and head.
چونک گم شد جمله جمله یافتند ** از کم آمد سوی کل بشتافتند
Since all has been lost, they have gained all: through dwindling away (to naught) they have sped towards the Whole.
دیدن ایشان در قصر این قلعه‌ی ذات الصور نقش روی دختر شاه چین را و بیهوش شدن هر سه و در فتنه افتادن و تفحص کردن کی این صورت کیست
How in the pavilion of the fortress adorned with pictures they (the princes) saw a portrait of the daughter of the King of China and how all three lost their senses and fell into distraction and made inquiries, asking, “Whose portrait is this?”
این سخن پایان ندارد آن گروه ** صورتی دیدند با حسن و شکوه 3760
This topic is endless. The company (of three) espied a beauteous and majestic portrait.
خوب‌تر زان دیده بودند آن فریق ** لیک زین رفتند در بحر عمیق
The (travelling) party had seen (pictures) more beautiful than that, but at (the sight of) this one they were plunged in the deep sea,
Because opium came to them in this cup: the cups are visible, but the opium is unseen.
کرد فعل خویش قلعه‌ی هش‌ربا ** هر سه را انداخت در چاه بلا
The fortress, (named) the destroyer of reason, wrought its work: it cast them, all three, into the pit of tribulation.
تیر غمزه دوخت دل را بی‌کمان ** الامان و الامان ای بی‌امان
Without a bow the arrow-like glances (of Love) pierce the heart—mercy, mercy, O merciless one!
قرنها را صورت سنگین بسوخت ** آتشی در دین و دلشان بر فروخت 3765
(Adoration of) a stone image consumed the (past) generations and kindled a fire (of love for it) in their religion and their hearts.
چونک روحانی بود خود چون بود ** فتنه‌اش هر لحظه دیگرگون بود
When it (the image) is spiritual, how (ravishing) must it be! Its fascination changes at every moment.
عشق صورت در دل شه‌زادگان ** چون خلش می‌کرد مانند سنان
Since love of the pictured form was stabbing the hearts of the princes like a spear-point,
اشک می‌بارید هر یک هم‌چو میغ ** دست می‌خایید و می‌گفت ای دریغ
Each (of them) was shedding tears, like a cloud, and gnawing his hands and crying, “Oh, alas!
ما کنون دیدیم شه ز آغاز دید ** چندمان سوگند داد آن بی‌ندید
Now we see (what) the King saw at the beginning. How often did that peerless one adjure us!”
انبیا را حق بسیارست از آن ** که خبر کردند از پایانمان 3770
The prophets have conferred a great obligation (on us) because they have made us aware of the end,
کاینچ می‌کاری نروید جز که خار ** وین طرف پری نیابی زو مطار
Saying, “That which thou art sowing will produce naught but thorns; and (if) thou fly in this (worldly) direction thou wilt find there no room to fly (beyond).
تخم از من بر که تا ریعی دهد ** با پر من پر که تیر آن سو جهد
Get the seed from me, that it may yield a (good) crop; fly with my wings, that the arrow may speed Yonder.
تو ندانی واجبی آن و هست ** هم تو گویی آخر آن واجب بدست
(If) thou dost not recognise the necessity and (real) existence of that (flight to God), yet in the end thou wilt confess that it was necessary.”
او توست اما نه این تو آن توست ** که در آخر واقف بیرون‌شوست
He (the prophet) is thou, but not this (unreal) “thou”: (he is) that “thou” which in the end is conscious of escape (from the world of illusion).
توی آخر سوی توی اولت ** آمدست از بهر تنبیه و صلت 3775
Thy last (unreal) “thou” has come to thy first (real) “thou” to receive admonition and gifts.
توی تو در دیگری آمد دفین ** من غلام مرد خودبینی چنین
Thy (real) “thou” is buried in another (unreal “thou”): I am the (devoted) slave of a man who thus (truly) sees himself.
آنچ در آیینه می‌بیند جوان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن
That which the youth sees in the mirror the Elder sees beforehand in the (crude iron) brick.
ز امر شاه خویش بیرون آمدیم ** با عنایات پدر یاغی شدیم
(The princes said), “We have transgressed the command of our King, we have rebelled against the favours of our father.