وهم خوانش آنک شهوت را گداست ** وهم قلب نقد زر عقلهاست

That which is a beggar of sensuality—call it imagination: imagination is the counterfeit of the sterling gold of the rational faculties.

بی‌محک پیدا نگردد وهم و عقل ** هر دو را سوی محک کن زود نقل

Without a touchstone, imagination and reason are not clearly distinguished: quickly bring both to the touchstone.

این محک قرآن و حال انبیا ** چون منحک مر قلب را گوید بیا

The Qur’án and the (spiritual) state of the Prophets are this touchstone: they, like a touchstone, say to the counterfeit coin, “Come,

تا ببینی خویش را ز آسیب من ** که نه‌ای اهل فراز و شیب من 2305

That by contact with me thou mayst see thyself (and know) that thou art not worthy of my higher and lower (degrees of spirituality).”

عقل را گر اره‌ای سازد دو نیم ** هم‌چو زر باشد در آتش او بسیم

If a saw make Reason (to be severed into) two halves, it (Reason) will be smiling like gold in the fire.

وهم مر فرعون عالم‌سوز را ** عقل مر موسی به جان افروز را

Imagination belongs to Pharaoh, the world-incendiary; Reason to Moses, the spirit-enkindler.

رفت موسی بر طریق نیستی ** گفت فرعونش بگو تو کیستی

Moses went on the way of non-existence (self-negation): Pharaoh said to him, “Tell (me), who art thou?”

گفت من عقلم رسول ذوالجلال ** حجةالله‌ام امانم از ضلال

He said, “I am Reason, the messenger of the Almighty: I am the proof of God, I am the protection against error.”

گفت نی خامش رها کن های هو ** نسبت و نام قدیمت را بگو 2310

“Nay,” said he, “hush, cease from (this ecstatic) outcry: tell (me) thy ancient lineage and name.”

گفت که نسبت مر از خاکدانش ** نام اصلم کمترین بندگانش

“My lineage,” he said, “(is derived) from His dust-pit; my original name is ‘the meanest of His slaves.’