کار من سربازی و بی‌خویشی است ** کار شاهنشاه من سربخشی است
’Tis my business to hazard (and lose) my head and to be selfless; ’tis the business of my sovereign king to give (me) a (new) head.”
فخر آن سر که کف شاهش برد ** ننگ آن سر کو به غیری سر برد2965
Honour to the head that is severed by the King's hand! Shame on the head that betakes itself to another!
شب که شاه از قهر در قیرش کشید ** ننگ دارد از هزاران روز عید
The night which the King in his wrath covered with pitch (pitchy darkness) holds in disdain a thousand days of festival.
خود طواف آنک او شه‌بین بود ** فوق قهر و لطف و کفر و دین بود
Verily, the circumambulation performed by him who beholds the King is above wrath and grace and infidelity and religion.
زان نیامد یک عبارت در جهان ** که نهانست و نهانست و نهان
Not one word (capable of) expressing it has (ever) come into the world, for it is hidden, hidden, hidden,
زانک این اسما و الفاظ حمید ** از گلابه‌ی آدمی آمد پدید
Inasmuch as these glorious names and words were manifested from the reel (uttered from the mouth) of Adam.
علم الاسما بد آدم را امام ** لیک نه اندر لباس عین و لام2970
He (God) taught (him) the names was an Imám (an infallible authority) for Adam; but (the teaching was) not in the garb of (letters such as) ‘ayn and lám.
چون نهاد از آب و گل بر سر کلاه ** گشت آن اسمای جانی روسیاه
When he put on his head the cap of water and clay, those spiritual names became black-faced,
که نقاب حرف و دم در خود کشید ** تا شود بر آب و گل معنی پدید
For they assumed the veil of letters and breath, (only) in order that the essential reality might (gradually) be made manifest to the water and clay.
گرچه از یک وجه منطق کاشف است ** لیک از ده وجه پرده و مکنف است
Although from one point of view speech is a revealer, yet from ten points of view it is a curtain and concealer.
گفتن خلیل مر جبرئیل را علیهماالسلام چون پرسیدش کی الک حاجة خلیل جوابش داد کی اما الیک فلا
How Khalíl (Abraham) answered Gabriel, on both of whom be peace, when he asked him, "Hast thou any need?"—"As regards need of thee, no!"