صورت رفعت برای جسمهاست ** جسمها در پیش معنی اسمهاست590
The form of sublimity is for bodies; beside the essence (reality) bodies are (mere) names.”
جواب گفتن وزیر که خلوت را نمیشکنم
The refusal of the vizier to interrupt his seclusion.
گفت حجتهای خود کوته کنید ** پند را در جان و در دل ره کنید
He said: “Cut short your arguments, let my advice make its way into your souls and hearts.
گر امینم متهم نبود امین ** گر بگویم آسمان را من زمین
If I am trustworthy, the trustworthy is not doubted, even though I should call heaven earth.
گر کمالم با کمال انکار چیست ** ور نیم این زحمت و آزار چیست
If I am (endowed with) perfection, why (this) disbelief in my perfection? and if I am not (perfect), why this molestation and annoyance?
من نخواهم شد از این خلوت برون ** ز آن که مشغولم به احوال درون
I will not go forth from this seclusion, because I am occupied with inward experiences.”
اعتراض مریدان در خلوت وزیر
How the disciples raised objections against the vizier's secluding himself.
جمله گفتند ای وزیر انکار نیست ** گفت ما چون گفتن اغیار نیست595
They all said: “O vizier, it is not disbelief: our words are not as the words of strangers.
اشک دیدهست از فراق تو دوان ** آه آه است از میان جان روان
The tears of our eyes are running because of our separation from thee; sigh after sigh is going (up) from the midst of our souls.
طفل با دایه نه استیزد و لیک ** گرید او گر چه نه بد داند نه نیک
A babe does not contend with its nurse, but it weeps, although it knows neither evil nor good.
ما چون چنگیم و تو زخمه میزنی ** زاری از ما نی تو زاری میکنی
We are as the harp and thou art striking (it with) the plectrum (playing on it): the lamentation is not from us, it is thou that art making lamentation.
ما چو ناییم و نوا در ما ز تست ** ما چو کوهیم و صدا در ما ز تست
We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the mountain, and the echo in us is from thee.
ما چو شطرنجیم اندر برد و مات ** برد و مات ما ز تست ای خوش صفات600
We are as pieces of chess (engaged) in victory and defeat: our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely!
ما که باشیم ای تو ما را جان جان ** تا که ما باشیم با تو در میان
Who are we, O thou soul of our souls, that we should remain in being beside thee?
ما عدمهاییم و هستیهای ما ** تو وجود مطلقی فانی نما
We and our existences are (really) non-existences: thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable (causes phenomena to appear).
ما همه شیران ولی شیر علم ** حملهشان از باد باشد دمبهدم
We all are lions, but lions on a banner: because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment.
حمله شان پیدا و ناپیداست باد ** آن که ناپیداست هرگز کم مباد
Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: may that which is unseen never fail!
باد ما و بود ما از داد تست ** هستی ما جمله از ایجاد تست605
Our wind (that whereby we are moved) and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing (us) into being.
لذت هستی نمودی نیست را ** عاشق خود کرده بودی نیست را
Thou didst show the delightfulness of Being unto not-being, (after) thou hadst caused not-being to fall in love with thee.
لذت انعام خود را وامگیر ** نقل و باده و جام خود را وامگیر
Take not away the delightfulness of thy bounty; take not away thy dessert and wine and wine-cup!
ور بگیری کیت جستجو کند ** نقش با نقاش چون نیرو کند
And if thou take it away, who will make inquiry of thee? How should the picture strive with the painter?
منگر اندر ما، مکن در ما نظر ** اندر اکرام و سخای خود نگر
Do not look on us, do not fix thy gaze on us: look on thine own kindness and generosity.
ما نبودیم و تقاضامان نبود ** لطف تو ناگفتهی ما میشنود610
We were not, and there was no demand on our part, (yet) thy grace was hearkening to our unspoken prayer (and calling us into existence).”
نقش باشد پیش نقاش و قلم ** عاجز و بسته چو کودک در شکم
Before the painter and the brush the picture is helpless and bound like a child in the womb.
پیش قدرت خلق جمله بارگه ** عاجزان چون پیش سوزن کارگه
Before Omnipotence all the people of the (Divine) court of audience (the world) are as helpless as the (embroiderer's) fabric before the needle.
گاه نقشش دیو و گه آدم کند ** گاه نقشش شادی و گه غم کند
Now He makes the picture thereon (one of) the Devil, now (of) Adam; now He makes the picture thereon (one of) joy, now (one of) grief.
دست نه تا دست جنباند به دفع ** نطق نه تا دم زند در ضر و نفع
There is no power (to any one) that he should move a hand in defence; no (right of) speech, that he should utter a word concerning injury or benefit.