پس به ضد نور دانستی تو نور ** ضد ضد را می‌‌نماید در صدور
Therefore thou knewest light by its opposite: opposite reveals opposite in (the process of) coming forth.
نور حق را نیست ضدی در وجود ** تا به ضد او را توان پیدا نمود
The Light of God hath no opposite in (all) existence, that by means of that opposite it should be possible to make Him manifest:
لاجرم أبصارنا لا تدرکه ** و هو یدرک بین تو از موسی و که1135
Necessarily (therefore) our eyes do not perceive Him, though He perceives (us): see this (fact) from (the case of) Moses and the mountain (Sinai).
صورت از معنی چو شیر از بیشه دان ** یا چو آواز و سخن ز اندیشه دان
Know that form springs from spirit (reality) as the lion from the jungle, or as voice and speech from thought.
این سخن و آواز از اندیشه خاست ** تو ندانی بحر اندیشه کجاست
This speech and voice arose from thought; thou knowest not where is the sea of thought,
لیک چون موج سخن دیدی لطیف ** بحر آن دانی که باشد هم شریف
But since thou hast seen that the waves of speech are fair, thou knowest that their sea also is noble.
چون ز دانش موج اندیشه بتاخت ** از سخن و آواز او صورت بساخت
When the waves of thought sped on from (the sea of) Wisdom, it (Wisdom) made (for them) the form of speech and voice.
از سخن صورت بزاد و باز مرد ** موج خود را باز اندر بحر برد1140
The form was born of the Word and died again, the wave drew itself back into the sea.
صورت از بی‌‌صورتی آمد برون ** باز شد که إنا إليه راجعون
The form came forth from Formlessness and went back (thither), for Verily unto Him are we returning.
پس ترا هر لحظه مرگ و رجعتی است ** مصطفی فرمود دنیا ساعتی است
Every instant, then, thou art dying and returning: Mustafá declared that this world is (but) a moment.
فکر ما تیری است از هو در هوا ** در هوا کی پاید آید تا خدا
Our thought is an arrow (shot) from Him (Hú) into the air (hawá): how should it stay in the air? It comes (back) to God.
هر نفس نو می‌‌شود دنیا و ما ** بی‌‌خبر از نو شدن اندر بقا
Every moment the world is renewed, and we are unaware of its being renewed whilst it remains (the same in appearance).
عمر همچون جوی نو نو می‌‌رسد ** مستمری می‌‌نماید در جسد1145
Life is ever arriving anew, like the stream, though in the body it has the semblance of continuity.
آن ز تیری مستمر شکل آمده ست ** چون شرر کش تیز جنبانی به دست
From its swiftness it appears continuous, like the spark which thou whirlest rapidly with thy hand.
شاخ آتش را بجنبانی به ساز ** در نظر آتش نماید بس دراز
If thou whirl a firebrand with dexterity, it appears to the sight as a very long (line of) fire.
این درازی مدت از تیزی صنع ** می‌‌نماید سرعت انگیزی صنع
The swift motion produced by the action of God presents this length of duration (Time) as (a phenomenon arising) from the rapidity of Divine action.
طالب این سر اگر علامه‌‌ای است ** نک حسام الدین که سامی نامه‌‌ای است
Even if the seeker of this mystery is an exceedingly learned man, (say to him), “Lo, Husámu’ddín, who is a sublime book (where you will find the mystery revealed).”
رسیدن خرگوش به شیر و خشم شیر بر وی
The hare's coming to the lion and the lion's anger with him.
شیر اندر آتش و در خشم و شور ** دید کان خرگوش می‌‌آید ز دور1150
The lion, incensed and wrathful and frantic, saw the hare coming from afar,
می‌‌دود بی‌‌دهشت و گستاخ او ** خشمگین و تند و تیز و ترش رو
Running undismayed and confidently, looking angry and fierce and fell and sour,
کز شکسته آمدن تهمت بود ** وز دلیری دفع هر ریبت بود
For by coming humbly (he thought) suspicion would be (excited), while by boldness every cause of doubt would be removed.
چون رسید او پیشتر نزدیک صف ** بانگ بر زد شیرهای ای ناخلف
When he came further on, near to the “shoe-row,” the lion shouted—“Ha, villain!
من که گاوان را ز هم بدریده‌‌ام ** من که گوش پیل نر مالیده‌‌ام
I who have torn elephants limb from limb, I who have rubbed the ear of (chastised and vanquished) the ferocious lion—
نیم خرگوشی که باشد که چنین ** امر ما را افکند او بر زمین1155
Who (what) is a half-witted (feeble) hare, that he should thus throw on the ground (disregard) my behest?”
ترک خواب غفلت خرگوش کن ** غره‌‌ی این شیر ای خر گوش کن
Abandon the hare's sleep of heedlessness! Give ear, O donkey, to the roaring of this lion!