هر چه اندر ابر ضو بینی و تاب ** آن ز اختر دان و ماه و آفتاب‌‌

Whatsoever light and splendour you see in the clouds, know that it comes from the stars and the moon and the sun.

چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها می‌‌زدند

When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** می‌‌ربود آن عقل را و فهم را

The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.

بعد از آن آمد به سوی رومیان ** پرده را بالا کشیدند از میان‌‌ 3480

After that, he came towards the Greeks: they drew up the intervening curtain.

عکس آن تصویر و آن کردارها ** زد بر این صافی شده دیوارها

The reflexion of those (Chinese) pictures and works (of art) struck upon these walls which had been made pure (from stain).

هر چه آن جا دید اینجا به نمود ** دیده را از دیده خانه می‌‌ربود

All that he had seen there (in the Chinese room) seemed more beautiful here: ’twas snatching the eye from the socket.

رومیان آن صوفیانند ای پدر ** بی‌‌ز تکرار و کتاب و بی‌‌هنر

The Greeks, O father, are the Súfís: (they are) without (independent of) study and books and erudition,

لیک صیقل کرده‌‌اند آن سینه‌‌ها ** پاک از آز و حرص و بخل و کینه‌‌ها

But they have burnished their breasts (and made them) pure from greed and cupidity and avarice and hatreds.

آن صفای آینه وصف دل است ** کاو نقوش بی‌‌عدد را قابل است‌‌ 3485

That purity of the mirror is the attribute of the heart (which) receives the infinite form.

صورت بی‌‌صورت بی‌‌حد غیب ** ز آینه‌‌ی دل تافت بر موسی ز جیب‌‌

That Moses (the perfect saint) holds in his bosom the formless infinite form of the Unseen (reflected) from the mirror of his heart.