دیدهای دلال بیمدلول هیچ ** تا نباشد جاده نبود غول هیچ 3455
Hast thou ever seen a subject that shows without (the existence of) an object that is shown: unless there is the road, there can never be the ghoul (which entices travelers to stray from the road).
هیچ نامی بیحقیقت دیدهای ** یا ز گاف و لام گل گل چیدهای
Hast thou ever seen a name without the reality (denoted by the name)? Or hast thou plucked a rose (gul) from the (letters) gáf and lám of (the word) gul?
اسم خواندی رو مسمی را بجو ** مه به بالا دان نه اندر آب جو
Thou hast pronounced the name: go, seek the thing named. Know that the moon is on high, not in the water of the stream.
گر ز نام و حرف خواهی بگذری ** پاک کن خود را ز خود هین یک سری
If thou wouldst pass beyond name and letter, oh, make thyself wholly purged of self.
همچو آهن ز آهنی بیرنگ شو ** در ریاضت آینهی بیزنگ شو
Like (polished) iron, lose the ferruginous colour; become in thy ascetic discipline (like) a mirror without rust.
خویش را صافی کن از اوصاف خود ** تا ببینی ذات پاک صاف خود 3460
Make thyself pure from the attributes of self, that thou mayst behold thine own pure untarnished essence,
بینی اندر دل علوم انبیا ** بیکتاب و بیمعید و اوستا
And behold within thy heart (all) the sciences of the prophets, without book and without preceptor and master.
گفت پیغمبر که هست از امتم ** کاو بود هم گوهر و هم همتم
The Prophet said, “Amongst my people are some who are one with me in nature and aspiration:
مر مرا ز آن نور بیند جانشان ** که من ایشان را همیبینم بدان
Their spirits behold me by the same light by which I am beholding them.”
بیصحیحین و احادیث و رواه ** بلکه اندر مشرب آب حیات
Without the two Sahíhs and Traditions and Traditionists; nay, (they behold him) in the place where they drink the Water of Life.
سر امسینا لکردیا بدان ** راز اصبحنا عرابیا بخوان 3465
Know the secret of “In the evening I was a Kurd”; read the mystery of “In the morning I was an Arab.”
ور مثالی خواهی از علم نهان ** قصه گو از رومیان و چینیان
And if you desire a parable of the hidden knowledge, relate the story of the Greeks and the Chinese.
قصهی مری کردن رومیان و چینیان در علم نقاشی و صورتگری
The story of the contention between the Greeks and the Chinese in the art of painting and picturing.
چینیان گفتند ما نقاشتر ** رومیان گفتند ما را کر و فر
The Chinese said, “We are the better artists”; the Greeks said, “The (superiority in) power and excellence belongs to us.”
گفت سلطان امتحان خواهم در این ** کز شماها کیست در دعوی گزین
“I will put you to the test in this matter,” said the Sultan, “(and see) which of you are approved in your claim.”
اهل چین و روم چون حاضر شدند ** رومیان از بحث در مکث آمدند
When the Chinese and the Greeks presented themselves, the Greeks were more skilled in the knowledge (of the art of painting).
چینیان گفتند یک خانه به ما ** خاص بسپارید و یک آن شما 3470
(Then) the Chinese said, “Hand over to us a particular room, and (let there be) one for you (as well).”
بود دو خانه مقابل دربدر ** ز آن یکی چینی ستد رومی دگر
There were two rooms with door facing door: the Chinese took one, the Greeks the other.
چینیان صد رنگ از شه خواستند ** پس خزینه باز کرد آن ارجمند
The Chinese requested the King to give them a hundred colours: then that excellent (king) opened the treasury.
هر صباحی از خزینه رنگها ** چینیان را راتبه بود از عطا
Every morning, by (his) bounty, the colours were dispensed from the treasury to the Chinese.
رومیان گفتند نی نقش و نه رنگ ** در خور آید کار را جز دفع زنگ
The Greeks said, “No tints and pictures are proper for our work, (nothing is needed) except to remove the rust.”
در فرو بستند و صیقل میزدند ** همچو گردون ساده و صافی شدند 3475
They shut the door and went on burnishing: they became clear and pure like the sky.
از دو صد رنگی به بیرنگی رهی است ** رنگ چون ابر است و بیرنگی مهی است
There is a way from many-colouredness to colourlessness: colour is like the clouds, and colourlessness is a moon.
هر چه اندر ابر ضو بینی و تاب ** آن ز اختر دان و ماه و آفتاب
Whatsoever light and splendour you see in the clouds, know that it comes from the stars and the moon and the sun.
چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها میزدند
When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.
شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** میربود آن عقل را و فهم را
The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.