آن دو همبازان گازر را ببین ** هست در ظاهر خلافی ز آن و ز این
Look at those two fellow-washermen: there is apparently a difference between that one and this:
آن یکی کرباس را در آب زد ** و آن دگر همباز خشکش میکند
The one has thrown the cotton garments into the water, while the other partner is drying them.
باز او آن خشک را تر میکند ** گوییا ز استیزه ضد بر میتند
Again the former makes the dry clothes wet: ’tis as though he were spitefully thwarting his opposite;
لیک این دو ضد استیزه نما ** یکدل و یک کار باشد در رضا3085
Yet these two opposites, who seem to be at strife, are of one mind and acting together in agreement.
هر نبی و هر ولی را مسلکی است ** لیک تا حق میبرد جمله یکی است
Every prophet and every saint hath a way (of religious doctrine and practice), but it leads to God: all (the ways) are (really) one.
چون که جمع مستمع را خواب برد ** سنگهای آسیا را آب برد
When slumber (heedlessness) overtook the concentration (attention) of the listener, the water carried the millstones away.
رفتن این آب فوق آسیاست ** رفتنش در آسیا بهر شماست
The course of this water is above the mill: its going into the mill is for your sakes.
چون شما را حاجت طاحون نماند ** آب را در جوی اصلی باز راند
Since ye had no further need of the mill, he (the prophet or saint) made the water flow back into the original stream.
ناطقه سوی دهان تعلیم راست ** ور نه خود آن نطق را جویی جداست3090
The rational spirit (the Logos) is (coming) to the mouth for the purpose of teaching: else (it would not come, for) truly that speech hath a channel apart:
میرود بیبانگ و بیتکرارها ** تحتها الأنهار تا گلزارها
It is moving without noise and without repetitions (of sound) to the rose-gardens beneath which are the rivers.
ای خدا جان را تو بنما آن مقام ** کاندر او بیحرف میروید کلام
O God, do Thou reveal to the soul that place where speech is growing without letters,
تا که سازد جان پاک از سر قدم ** سوی عرصهی دور پهنای عدم
That the pure soul may make of its head a foot (fly headlong) towards the far stretching expanse of non-existence—
عرصهای بس با گشاد و با فضا ** وین خیال و هست یابد زو نوا
An expanse very ample and spacious; and from it this phantasy and being (of ours) is fed.
تنگتر آمد خیالات از عدم ** ز آن سبب باشد خیال اسباب غم3095
(The realm of) phantasies is narrower than non-existence (potential existence): on that account phantasy is the cause of pain.
باز هستی تنگتر بود از خیال ** ز آن شود در وی قمر همچون هلال
(The realm of actual) existence, again, was (ever) narrower than (the realm of) phantasy: hence in it the moon becomes like the moon that has waned
باز هستی جهان حس و رنگ ** تنگتر آمد که زندانی است تنگ
Again, the existence of the world of sense and colour is narrower (than this), for ’tis a narrow prison.
علت تنگی است ترکیب و عدد ** جانب ترکیب حسها میکشد
The cause of narrowness is composition (compoundness) and number (plurality): the senses are moving towards composition.
ز آن سوی حس عالم توحید دان ** گر یکی خواهی بدان جانب بران
Know that the world of Unification lies beyond sense: if you want Unity, march in that direction.
امر کن یک فعل بود و نون و کاف ** در سخن افتاد و معنی بود صاف3100
The (Divine) Command KuN (Be) was a single act, and the (two letters) N and K occurred (only) in speech, while the (inward) meaning was pure (uncompounded).
این سخن پایان ندارد باز گرد ** تا چه شد احوال گرگ اندر نبرد
This discourse hath no end. Return, that (we may see) what happened to the wolf in combat (with the lion).
ادب کردن شیر گرگ را که در قسمت بیادبی کرده بود
How the lion punished the wolf who had shown disrespect in dividing (the prey).
گرگ را بر کند سر آن سر فراز ** تا نماند دو سریو امتیاز
That haughty one tore off the head of the wolf, in order that two-headedness (dualism) and distinction might not remain (in being).
فانتقمنا منهم است ای گرگ پیر ** چون نبودی مرده در پیش امیر
’Tis (the meaning of) So we took vengeance on them, O old wolf, inasmuch as thou wert not dead in the presence of the Amír.
بعد از آن رو شیر با روباه کرد ** گفت این را بخش کن از بهر خورد
After that, the lion turned to the fox and said, “Divide this for eating.”
سجده کرد و گفت کاین گاو سمین ** چاشت خوردت باشد ای شاه گزین3105
He bowed low and said, “This fat ox will be thy food at breakfast, O excellent King,
و آن بز از بهر میان روز را ** یخنیی باشد شه پیروز را
And that goat will be a portion reserved for the victorious King at midday,