کیمیا ساز است چه بود کیمیا ** معجزه بخش است چه بود سیمیا
He is an alchemist—what is alchemy (compared with His action)? He is a giver of miracles (to prophets)—what is magic (compared with these miracles)?
این ثنا گفتن ز من ترک ثناست ** کین دلیل هستی و هستی خطاست
This uttering of praise (to Him) is (really) the omission of praise on my part, for this (praise) is a proof of (my) being, and being is a sin.
پیش هست او بباید نیست بود ** چیست هستی پیش او کور و کبود
It behoves (us) to be not-being in the presence of His Being: in His presence what is (our) being? Blind and blue.
گر نبودی کور از او بگداختی ** گرمی خورشید را بشناختی
Were it not blind it would have been melted (consumed) by Him: it would have known the heat of (the Divine) sun;
ور نبودی او کبود از تعزیت ** کی فسردی همچو یخ این ناحیت520
And were it not blue from mourning, how would this region (of phenomenal existence) have (remained) frozen like ice?
بیان خسارت وزیر در این مکر
Setting forth how the vizier incurred perdition (by engaging) in this plot.
همچو شه نادان و غافل بد وزیر ** پنجه میزد با قدیم ناگزیر
The vizier was ignorant and heedless, like the (Jewish) king: he was wrestling with the eternal and inevitable,
با چنان قادر خدایی کز عدم ** صد چو عالم هست گرداند به دم
With a God so mighty that in a moment He causes a hundred worlds like ours to come into existence from non-existence:
صد چو عالم در نظر پیدا کند ** چون که چشمت را به خود بینا کند
A hundred worlds like ours He displays to the sight, when He makes your eye seeing by (the light of) Himself.
گر جهان پیشت بزرگ و بیبنی است ** پیش قدرت ذره ای میدان که نیست
If the world appears to you vast and bottomless, know that to Omnipotence it is not (so much as) an atom.
این جهان خود حبس جانهای شماست ** هین روید آن سو که صحرای شماست525
This world, indeed, is the prison of your souls: oh, go in yonder direction, for there lies your open country.
این جهان محدود آن خود بی حد است ** نقش و صورت پیش ٱن معنی سد است
This world is finite, and truly that (other) is infinite: image and form are a barrier to that Reality.
صد هزاران نیزهی فرعون را ** در شکست از موسیی با یک عصا
The myriads of Pharaoh's lances were shattered by (the hand of) Moses (armed) with a single staff.
صد هزاران طب جالینوس بود ** پیش عیسی و دمش افسوس بود
Myriads were the therapeutic arts of Galen: before Jesus and his (life-giving) breath they were a laughing-stock.
صد هزاران دفتر اشعار بود ** پیش حرف امیی آن عار بود
Myriads were the books of (pre-Islamic) poems: at the word of an illiterate (prophet) they were (put to) shame.
با چنین غالب خداوندی کسی ** چون نمیرد گر نباشد او خسی530
(Confronted) with such an all-conquering Lord, how should any one not die (to self), unless he be a vile wretch?
بس دل چون کوه را انگیخت او ** مرغ زیرک با دو پا آویخت او
Many a mind (strong and firm) as a mountain did He uproot; the cunning bird He hung up by its two feet.
فهم و خاطر تیز کردن نیست راه ** جز شکسته مینگیرد فضل شاه
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way: none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
ای بسا گنج آگنان کنج کاو ** کان خیال اندیش را شد ریش گاو
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure), who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
گاو که بود تا تو ریش او شوی ** خاک چه بود تا حشیش او شوی
Who is the ox that you should become his beard? What is earth that you should become its stubble?
چون زنی از کار بد شد روی زرد ** مسخ کرد او را خدا و زهره کرد535
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness, God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).
عورتی را زهره کردن مسخ بود ** خاک و گل گشتن نه مسخ است ای عنود
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: is it not metamorphosis to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
روح میبردت سوی چرخ برین ** سوی آب و گل شدی در اسفلین
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven): you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest (of the low).
خویشتن را مسخ کردی زین سفول ** ز آن وجودی که بد آن رشک عقول
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of) existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
پس ببین کین مسخ کردن چون بود ** پیش آن مسخ این به غایت دون بود
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis: compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
اسب همت سوی اختر تاختی ** آدم مسجود را نشناختی540
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars: you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).