ملک را بگذار بلقیس از نخست ** چون مرا یابی همه ملک آن تست

First, O Bilqís relinquish thy kingdom: when thou gainest me, all the kingdom is thine.

خود بدانی چون بر من آمدی ** که تو بی من نقش گرمابه بدی 800

When thou hast come to me, thou thyself wilt know that without me thou wert (as) a picture in the bath-house.”

نقش اگر خود نقش سلطان یا غنیست ** صورتست از جان خود بی چاشنیست

Even if the picture be the picture of a sultan or a rich man, it is a (mere) form: it has no savour (consciousness) of its own spirit.

زینت او از برای دیگران ** باز کرده بیهده چشم و دهان

Its beauty is for others: its eyes and mouth are open in vain.

ای تو در بیگار خود را باخته ** دیگران را تو ز خود نشناخته

O you who have devoted yourself (to contending with others) in strife, you have not known (discriminated) others from your self.

تو به هر صورت که آیی بیستی ** که منم این والله آن تو نیستی

You stop at every form that you come to, saying, “I am this.” By God, you are not that (form).

یک زمان تنها بمانی تو ز خلق ** در غم و اندیشه مانی تا به حلق 805

(If) you are left alone by people for a single moment, you remain (plunged) up to the throat in grief and anxiety.

این تو کی باشی که تو آن اوحدی ** که خوش و زیبا و سرمست خودی

How are you this (form)? You are that Unique One, for (in reality) you are fair and lovely and intoxicated with yourself.

مرغ خویشی صید خویشی دام خویش ** صدر خویشی فرش خویشی بام خویش

You are your own bird your own prey, and your own snare; you are your own seat of honour, your own floor, and your own root.

جوهر آن باشد که قایم با خودست ** آن عرض باشد که فرع او شدست

The substance is that which subsists in itself; the accident is that which has become a derivative of it (of the substance).

گر تو آدم‌زاده‌ای چون او نشین ** جمله ذریات را در خود ببین

If you are born of Adam, sit like him and behold all his progeny in yourself

چیست اندر خم که اندر نهر نیست ** چیست اندر خانه که اندر شهر نیست 810

What is in the jar that is not (also) in the river? What is in the house that is not (also) in the city?

این جهان خمست و دل چون جوی آب ** این جهان حجره‌ست و دل شهر عجاب

This world is the jar, and the heart (spirit) is like the river; this world is the chamber, and the heart is the wonderful city.

پیدا کردن سلیمان علیه‌السلام کی مرا خالصا لامر الله جهدست در ایمان تو یک ذره غرضی نیست مرا نه در نفس تو و حسن تو و نه در ملک تو خود بینی چون چشم جان باز شود به نورالله

How Solomon, on whom be peace, explained (to Bilqís), saying, "My labour in (bringing about) thy (conversion to the) Faith is purely for God’s sake: I have not one atom of self-interest, either as regards thy person or thy beauty or thy kingdom. Thou thyself wilt see (this) when the eye of thy spirit is opened by the light of God."

هین بیا که من رسولم دعوتی ** چون اجل شهوت‌کشم نه شهوتی

“Hark, come, for I am a Messenger (Prophet) sent to call (the people to God): like Death, I am the slayer of lust, I am not given to lust.

ور بود شهوت امیر شهوتم ** نه اسیر شهوت روی بتم

And if there be lust (in me), I am the ruler of (my) lust: lam not captive to lust for the face of an idol.

بت‌شکن بودست اصل اصل ما ** چون خلیل حق و جمله انبیا

My deepest nature is a breaker of idols, like (Abraham) the Friend of God and all the prophets.

گر در آییم ای رهی در بتکده ** بت سجود آرد نه ما در معبده 815

O slave, if I enter the idol-temple, the idol will prostrate itself, not I, in adoration.”

احمد و بوجهل در بتخانه رفت ** زین شدن تا آن شدن فرقیست زفت

(Both) Ahmad (Mohammed) and Bú Jahl went into the idol- temple; (but) there is a great difference between this going and that going.

این در آید سر نهند او را بتان ** آن در آید سر نهد چون امتان

This one (Mohammed) enters, the idols lay down their heads before him; that one (Bú Jahl) enters and lays down his head (before the idols), like the peoples (of old).

این جهان شهوتی بتخانه‌ایست ** انبیا و کافران را لانه‌ایست

This world, (which is) associated with lust, is an idol-temple: it is a nest (abode) for the prophets and the infidels (alike),

لیک شهوت بنده‌ی پاکان بود ** زر نسوزد زانک نقد کان بود

But lust is the slave of holy men: gold does not burn (in the fire), because it is sterling coin from the mine.

کافران قلب‌اند و پاکان هم‌چو زر ** اندرین بوته درند این دو نفر 820

The infidels are alloy, while the holy men are as (pure) gold: both these (classes of) persons are within this crucible.

قلب چون آمد سیه شد در زمان ** زر در آمد شد زری او عیان

When the alloy came (into the crucible), it became black at once; (when) the gold came in, its goldenness was made manifest.

دست و پا انداخت زر در بوته خوش ** در رخ آتش همی خندد رگش

The gold gladly cast (itself with) hands and feet into the crucible: its vein (original nature) laughs in the face of the fire.

جسم ما روپوش ما شد در جهان ** ما چو دریا زیر این که در نهان

Our body is our veil in the world: we are like a sea hidden beneath this straw.