حرف حکمت خور که شد نور ستیر ** ای تو نور بی‌حجب را ناپذیر
Drink the word of Wisdom, for it hath become a hidden (veiled) light, O thou who art unable to receive the unveiled Light,
تا پذیرا گردی ای جان نور را ** تا ببینی بی‌حجب مستور را
To the end that thou mayst become able, O Soul, to receive the Light, and that thou mayst behold without veils that which (now) is hidden,
چون ستاره سیر بر گردون کنی ** بلک بی گردون سفر بی‌چون کنی
And traverse the sky like a star; nay, (that thou mayst) journey unconditioned, without (any) sky.
آنچنان کز نیست در هست آمدی ** هین بگو چون آمدی مست آمدی
(’Twas) thus thou camest into being from non-existence. Say now, how didst thou come? Thou camest drunken (unconscious).
راههای آمدن یادت نماند ** لیک رمزی بر تو بر خواهیم خواند1290
The ways of thy coming are not remembered by thee, but we will recite to thee a hint (thereof).
هوش را بگذار وانگه هوش‌دار ** گوش را بر بند وانگه گوش دار
Let thy mind go, and then be mindful! Close thine ear, and then listen!
نه نگویم زانک خامی تو هنوز ** در بهاری تو ندیدستی تموز
Nay, I will not tell (it), because thou still art unripe: thou art in (thy) springtime, thou hast not seen (the month of) Tamúz.
این جهان همچون درختست ای کرام ** ما برو چون میوه‌های نیم‌خام
This world is even as the tree, O noble ones: we are like the half-ripened fruit upon it.
سخت گیرد خامها مر شاخ را ** زانک در خامی نشاید کاخ را
The unripe (fruits) cling fast to the bough, because during (their) immaturity they are not meet for the palace.
چون بپخت و گشت شیرین لب‌گزان ** سست گیرد شاخها را بعد از آن1295
When they have ripened and have become sweet—after that, biting their lips, they take (but) a feeble hold of the boughs.
چون از آن اقبال شیرین شد دهان ** سرد شد بر آدمی ملک جهان
When the mouth has been sweetened by that felicity, the kingdom of the world becomes cold (unpleasing) to Man.
سخت‌گیری و تعصب خامی است ** تا جنینی کار خون‌آشامی است
To take a tight hold and to attach one's self strongly (to the world) is (a sign of) unripeness: so long as thou art an embryo, thy occupation is blood-drinking.
چیز دیگر ماند اما گفتنش ** با تو روح القدس گوید بی منش
Another thing remains (to be said), but the Holy Spirit will tell thee the tale of it, without me.
نه تو گویی هم بگوش خویشتن ** نه من ونه غیرمن ای هم تو من
Nay, thou wilt tell it even to thine own ear—neither I nor another than I (will tell it thee), O thou that art even I—
همچو آن وقتی که خواب اندر روی ** تو ز پیش خود به پیش خود شوی1300
Just as, when thou fallest asleep, thou goest from the presence of thyself into the presence of thyself:
بشنوی از خویش و پنداری فلان ** با تو اندر خواب گفتست آن نهان
Thou hearest from thyself, and deemest that such or such a one has secretly told thee in the dream that (which thou hast heard).
تو یکی تو نیستی ای خوش رفیق ** بلک گردونی ودریای عمیق
Thou art not a single “thou,” O good comrade; nay, thou art the sky and the deep sea.
آن تو زفتت که آن نهصدتوست ** قلزمست وغرقه گاه صد توست
Thy mighty “Thou,” which is nine hundredfold, is the ocean and the drowning-place of a hundred “thou's.”
خود چه جای حد بیداریست و خواب ** دم مزن والله اعلم بالصواب
Indeed, what occasion (is there) for the terms wakefulness and sleep? Do not speak, for God knoweth best what is right.
دم مزن تا بشنوی از دم ز نان ** آنچ نامد در زبان و در بیان1305
Do not speak, so that thou mayst hear from the Speakers that which came not into utterance or into explanation.
دم مزن تا بشنوی زان آفتاب ** آنچ نامد درکتاب و در خطاب
Do not speak, so that thou mayst hear from the Sun that which came not into book or into allocution.
دم مزن تا دم زند بهر تو روح ** آشنا بگذار در کشتی نوح
Do not speak, so that the Spirit may speak for thee: in the ark of Noah leave off swimming!
همچو کنعان کشنا می‌کرد او ** که نخواهم کشتی نوح عدو
(Be not) like Canaan, who was swimming and saying, “I do not want the ark of Noah, (who is) my enemy.”
هی بیا در کشتی بابا نشین ** تا نگردی غرق طوفان ای مهین
(Noah said), “Hey, come and sit in thy father's ark, that thou mayst not be drowned in the Flood, O despicable one!”
گفت نه من آشنا آموختم ** من بجز شمع تو شمع افروختم1310
He answered, “Nay, I have learned to swim: I have lighted a candle other than thy candle.”