کفر و ایمان عاشق آن کبریا ** مس و نقره بنده‌‌ی آن کیمیا

(Both) infidelity and faith are lovers of that Majesty, both copper and silver are slaves to that Elixir.

در بیان آن که موسی و فرعون هر دو مسخر مشیت‌‌اند چنان که زهر و پادزهر و ظلمات و نور و مناجات کردن فرعون به خلوت تا ناموس نشکند

Explaining that both Moses and Pharaoh are subject to the Divine Will, like poison and antidote and darkness and light, and how Pharaoh conversed in solitude with God, praying that He would not destroy his (good) reputation.

موسی و فرعون معنی را رهی ** ظاهر آن ره دارد و این بی‌‌رهی‌‌

Moses and Pharaoh were servants (worshippers) of Reality, (though) outwardly the former keeps the way (is rightly guided), while the latter has lost the way.

روز موسی پیش حق نالان شده ** نیم شب فرعون گریان آمده‌‌

In the daytime Moses was making lament (supplication) to God: at midnight Pharaoh would begin to weep,

کاین چه غل است ای خدا بر گردنم ** ور نه غل باشد که گوید من منم‌‌

Saying, “O God, what shackle is this on my neck? Were it not for the shackle, who would say ‘I am I’?

ز آن که موسی را منور کرده‌‌ای ** مر مرا ز آن هم مکدر کرده‌‌ای‌‌ 2450

By that (will) whereby Thou hast made Moses to be illumined, by that (same will) Thou hast made me to be darkened;

ز آن که موسی را تو مه رو کرده‌‌ای ** ماه جانم را سیه رو کرده‌‌ای‌‌

By that whereby Thou hast made Moses' face like the moon Thou hast made the moon of my soul to be black-faced (eclipsed).

بهتر از ماهی نبود استاره‌‌ام ** چون خسوف آمد چه باشد چاره‌‌ام‌‌

My star was not better than a moon (so that it should be exempt from eclipse): since it has suffered eclipse, what help have I?

نوبتم گر رب و سلطان می‌‌زنند ** مه گرفت و خلق پنگان می‌‌زنند

If they beat drums in my honour (proclaiming me) as Lord and Sultan, (’tis like as when) the moon is eclipsed and the people beat bowls (of metal).

می‌‌زنند آن طاس و غوغا می‌‌کنند ** ماه را ز آن زخمه رسوا می‌‌کنند

They beat those bowls and raise a clamour: they put the moon to shame by their blows.

من که فرعونم ز شهرت وای من ** زخم طاس آن ربی الاعلای من‌‌ 2455

I, who am Pharaoh, oh, woe is me because of (what is being done by) the people: my (title of) ‘My supreme Lord’ is (like) the blows on the bowl (since it proclaims my eclipse).

خواجه‌‌تاشانیم اما تیشه‌‌ات ** می‌‌شکافد شاخ را در بیشه‌‌ات‌‌

We (Moses and I) are fellow-servants (to Thee), but Thy axe is cleaving the boughs in Thy forest;

باز شاخی را موصل می‌‌کند ** شاخ دیگر را معطل می‌‌کند

Then it makes one bough to be grafted, another bough to be left uncared for.

شاخ را بر تیشه دستی هست نی ** هیچ شاخ از دست تیشه جست نی‌‌

The bough has no power against the axe: no bough escaped from the power of the axe.

حق آن قدرت که آن تیشه تراست ** از کرم کن این کژیها را تو راست‌‌

(I entreat Thee) by the truth of the might which belongs to Thy axe, do Thou graciously make these crooked (perverse) actions (of ours) straight (righteous).”

باز با خود گفته فرعون ای عجب ** من نه در یا ربناام جمله شب‌‌ 2460

Once more Pharaoh said to himself, “Oh, wonderful! Am not I (occupied) the whole night in (crying) ‘O our Lord’?

در نهان خاکی و موزون می‌‌شوم ** چون به موسی می‌‌رسم چون می‌‌شوم‌‌

In secret I am growing humble and harmonious: when I reach Moses, how am I becoming (so different)?

رنگ زر قلب ده‌‌تو می‌‌شود ** پیش آتش چون سیه رو می‌‌شود

The colour (gilt) of base gold is (laid on) in ten coats: how is it becoming black-faced in the presence of the fire?

نی که قلب و قالبم در حکم اوست ** لحظه‌‌ای مغزم کند یک لحظه پوست‌‌

Is it not (true) that my heart (spirit) and body are under His control, (so that) at one moment He makes me a kernel, at another moment a rind?

سبز گردم چون که گوید کشت باش ** زرد گردم چون که گوید زشت باش‌‌

When He bids me be a cornfield, I become green; when He bids me be ugly, I become yellow.

لحظه‌‌ای ماهم کند یک دم سیاه ** خود چه باشد غیر این کار اله‌‌ 2465

At one moment He makes me a moon, at another black.” How, indeed, is the action of God other than this?

پیش چوگانهای حکم کن فکان ** می‌‌دویم اندر مکان و لامکان‌‌

Before the (blows of the) bat of His decree, “Be, and it was,” we are running (like balls) in Space and beyond.

چون که بی‌‌رنگی اسیر رنگ شد ** موسیی با موسیی در جنگ شد

Since colourlessness (pure Unity) became the captive of colour (manifestation in the phenomenal world), a Moses came into conflict with a Moses.

چون به بی‌‌رنگی رسی کان داشتی ** موسی و فرعون دارند آشتی‌‌

When you attain unto the colourlessness which you (originally) possessed, Moses and Pharaoh are at peace (with each other).

گر ترا آید بر این نکته سؤال ** رنگ کی خالی بود از قیل و قال‌‌

If it occurs to you to ask questions about this mystery, (I reply), how should (the world of) colour be devoid of contradiction?

این عجب کاین رنگ از بی‌‌رنگ خاست ** رنگ با بی‌‌رنگ چون در جنگ خاست‌‌ 2470

The marvel is that this colour arose from that which is colourless: how did colour arise to war with the colourless?