امتحان چشم خود کردم به نور ** ای که چشم بد ز چشمان تو دور
I made trial of my own eye with light, O thou from whose eyes may the evil eye be far!
این جهان هم‌چون خرابست و تو گنج ** گر تفحص کردم از گنجت مرنج
This world is as the ruin, and thou the treasure (buried there): if I have made investigation concerning thy treasure, be not aggrieved.
زان چنین بی‌خردگی کردم گزاف ** تا زنم با دشمنان هر بار لاف
I recklessly committed such an indiscretion, that I may always boast (of thy virtue) to (thy) enemies;
تا زبانم چون ترا نامی نهد ** چشم ازین دیده گواهیها دهد
So that, when my tongue bestows a name on thee, my eye may give testimonies of this which I have seen.
گر شدم در راه حرمت راه‌زن ** آمدم ای مه به شمشیر و کفن315
If I have sought to rob thee of thy honour I come, O Moon (of beauty), with sword and winding-sheet.
جز به دست خود مبرم پا و سر ** که ازین دستم نه از دست دگر
Do not cut off my feet and head save with thine own hand, for I belong to this hand, not to another hand.
از جدایی باز می‌رانی سخن ** هر چه خواهی کن ولیکن این مکن
Thou art talking again of separation: do whatsoever thou wilt, but do not this!”
در سخن آباد این دم راه شد ** گفت امکان نیست چون بیگاه شد
The way is now made (open for entering) into the realm of Discourse (Exposition); (but) ‘tis impossible to speak (on the subject), since there is no time (to do so at present).
پوستها گفتیم و مغز آمد دفین ** گر بمانیم این نماند همچنین
We have told the husks (externals), but the kernel (the inner meaning) is buried; if we remain (alive), this will not remain (concealed) as it is now.
رد کردن معشوقه عذر عاشق را و تلبیس او را در روی او مالیدن
How the beloved rejected the excuses of the lover and rubbed his duplicity into him.
در جوابش بر گشاد آن یار لب ** کز سوی ما روز سوی تست شب320
The loved one opened her lips to answer him, saying, “On my side it is day, and on thy side it is night.
حیله‌های تیره اندر داوری ** پیش بینایان چرا می‌آوری
Why in contention dost thou bring forward dark evasions be fore those who see (the truth plainly)?
هر چه در دل داری از مکر و رموز ** پیش ما رسواست و پیدا هم‌چو روز
To us, all the deceit and dissimulations that thou hast in thy heart are manifest and clear as day.
گر بپوشیمش ز بنده‌پروری ** تو چرا بی‌رویی از حد می‌بری
If we, in kindness to our servant, cover it up, why dost thou carry shamelessness beyond the limit?
از پدر آموز که آدم در گناه ** خوش فرود آمد به سوی پایگاه
Learn from thy Father; for in (the hour of) sin Adam came down willingly to the vestibule
چون بدید آن عالم الاسرار را ** بر دو پا استاد استغفار را325
When he beheld that Knower of secrets, he stood up on his feet to ask forgiveness.
بر سر خاکستر انده نشست ** از بهانه شاخ تا شاخی نجست
He seated himself on the ashes of contrition: he did not jump from one branch of idle pleading to another
ربنا انا ظلمنا گفت و بس ** چونک جانداران بدید از پیش و پس
He said only, ‘O Lord, verily we have done wrong,’ when he saw the (angelic) life-guards in front and behind.
دید جانداران پنهان هم‌چو جان ** دورباش هر یکی تا آسمان
He saw the life-guards who are invisible, as the spirit is—each one’s mace (reaching) to the sky—-
که هلا پیش سلیمان مور باش ** تا بنشکافد ترا این دورباش
Saying, ‘Hola! be (as) the ant before Solomon, lest this mace cleave thee asunder.
جز مقام راستی یک دم مه‌ایست ** هیچ لالا مرد را چون چشم نیست330
Do not for one moment stand (anywhere) but in the place of truth: a man hath no guardian like the (seeing) eye.
کور اگر از پند پالوده شود ** هر دمی او باز آلوده شود
(Even) if the blind man be purified by admonition, he continually becomes polluted again.
آدما تو نیستی کور از نظر ** لیک اذا جاء القضا عمی البصر
O Adam, thou art not blind of vision, but when the Divine destiny comes, the sight becomes blind.’”
عمرها باید به نادر گاه‌گاه ** تا که بینا از قضا افتد به چاه
Lifetimes are needed—(so) rarely and occasionally (does it happen)—for the seeing man to fall by destiny into the pit.
کور را خود این قضا همراه اوست ** که مرورا اوفتادن طبع و خوست
As regards the blind man, this destiny in sooth is his companion on the way; for ‘tis his nature and disposition to fall.
در حدث افتد نداند بوی چیست ** از منست این بوی یا ز آلودگیست335
He falls into the filth and does not know what the smell is; (he asks himself), “Is this smell from me or from (my) being polluted?”