در میان جانشان بود آن سمی ** لک قاصد کرده خود را اعجمی
That exalted (monarch) was in the midst (depths) of their souls, but he had purposely feigned to be unfamiliar (with them).
صورت آتش بود پایان دیگ ** معنی آتش بود در جان دیگ
The form (appearance) of the fire is beneath the kettle; the spirit (reality) of the fire is in the soul of the kettle.
صورتش بیرون و معنیش اندرون ** معنی معشوق جان در رگ چو خون 4400
Its form is outside and its spirit inside: the spirit (real nature) of the soul's Beloved is (in the soul) like blood in the veins.
شاه‌زاده پیش شه زانو زده ** ده معرف شارح حالش شده
The prince knelt before the King, (while) ten announcers gave a description of his state.
گرچه شه عارف بد از کل پیش پیش ** لیک می‌کردی معرف کار خویش
Although the King knew it all long ago, yet the announcer was performing the duties of his office.
در درون یک ذره نور عارفی ** به بود از صد معرف ای صفی
O sincere man, a single atom of the light of (mystic) knowledge within (thee) is better than a hundred announcers.
گوش را رهن معرف داشتن ** آیت محجوبیست و حزر و ظن
To confine one's attention to the announcer is a mark of being debarred (from access to real knowledge) and of (being preoccupied with) conjecture and (mere) opinion.
آنک او را چشم دل شد دیدبان ** دید خواهد چشم او عین العیان 4405
He whose scout is his inward eye—his eye will behold with the very acme of clairvoyance.
با تواتر نیست قانع جان او ** بل ز چشم دل رسد ایقان او
His soul is not content with traditional authority; nay, his feeling of (absolute) certainty comes from the inward eye.
پس معرف پیش شاه منتجب ** در بیان حال او بگشود لب
Then the announcer opened his lips to describe his (the eldest brother's) plight in the presence of the elect King.