گفت معشوقی به عاشق ز امتحان ** در صبوحی کای فلان ابن الفلان 2020
At the hour of the morning-drink a beloved said to her lover by way of trial, “O such-and-such son of such-and-such,
مر مرا تو دوست‌تر داری عجب ** یا که خود را راست گو یا ذا الکرب
I wonder, do you love me or yourself more? Tell the truth, O man of sorrows.”
گفت من در تو چنان فانی شدم ** که پرم از تتو ز ساران تا قدم
He replied, “I have become so naughted in thee that I am full of thee from head to foot.
بر من از هستی من جز نام نیست ** در وجودم جز تو ای خوش‌کام نیست
Of my existence there is nothing (left) in me but the name: in my being there is naught but thee, O thou whose wishes are gratified.
زان سبب فانی شدم من این چنین ** هم‌چو سرکه در تو بحر انگبین
By that means I have become thus naughted, like vinegar, in thee (who art) an ocean of honey.”
هم‌چو سنگی کو شود کل لعل ناب ** پر شود او از صفات آفتاب 2025
As the stone that is entirely turned into pure ruby: it is filled with the qualities of the sun.
وصف آن سنگی نماند اندرو ** پر شود از وصف خور او پشت و رو
That stony nature does not remain in it: back and front, it is filled with sunniness.
بعد از آن گر دوست دارد خویش را ** دوستی خور بود آن ای فتا
Afterwards, if it love itself, that (self-love) is love of the sun, O youth;
ور که خود را دوست دارد ای بجان ** دوستی خویش باشد بی‌گمان
And if it love the sun with (all) its soul, ’tis undoubtedly love of itself.
خواه خود را دوست دارد لعل ناب ** خواه تا او دوست دارد آفتاب
Whether the pure ruby loves itself or whether it loves the sun,
اندرین دو دوستی خود فرق نیست ** هر دو جانب جز ضیای شرق نیست 2030
There is really no difference in these two loves: both sides (aspects) are naught but the radiance of the sunrise.
تا نشد او لعل خود را دشمنست ** زانک یک من نیست آنجا دو منست
Until it (the stone) has become a ruby, it is an enemy to itself, because it is not a single “I”: two “I's” are there;
زانک ظلمانیست سنگ و روزکور ** هست ظلمانی حقیقت ضد نور
For the stone is dark and blind to the day (-light): the dark is essentially opposed to light.
خویشتن را دوست دارد کافرست ** زانک او مناع شمس اکبرست
(If) it love itself, it is an infidel, because it offers intense resistance to the supreme Sun.
پس نشاید که بگوید سنگ انا ** او همه تاریکیست و در فنا
Therefore ’tis not fitting that the stone should say “I,” (for) it is wholly darkness and in (the state of) death.
گفت فرعونی انا الحق گشت پست ** گفت منصوری اناالحق و برست 2035
A Pharaoh said “I am God” and was laid low; a Mansúr (Halláj) said “I am God” and was saved.
آن انا را لعنة الله در عقب ** وین انا را رحمةالله ای محب
The former “I” is followed by God's curse and the latter “I” by God's mercy, O loving man;
زانک او سنگ سیه بد این عقیق ** آن عدوی نور بود و این عشیق
For that one (Pharaoh) was a black stone, this one (Halláj) a cornelian; that one was an enemy to the Light, and this one passionately enamoured (of it).
این انا هو بود در سر ای فضول ** ز اتحاد نور نه از رای حلول
This “I,” O presumptuous meddler, was “He” (God) in the inmost consciousness, through oneness with the Light, not through (belief in) the doctrine of incarnation.
جهد کن تا سنگیت کمتر شود ** تا به لعلی سنگ تو انور شود
Strive that thy stony nature may be diminished, so that thy stone may become resplendent with the qualities of the ruby.
صبر کن اندر جهاد و در عنا ** دم به دم می‌بین بقا اندر فنا 2040
Show fortitude in (enduring) self-mortification and affliction; continually behold everlasting life in dying to self.
وصف سنگی هر زمان کم می‌شود ** وصف لعلی در تو محکم می‌شود
(Then) thy stoniness will become less at every moment, the nature of the ruby will be strengthened in thee.
وصف هستی می‌رود از پیکرت ** وصف مستی می‌فزاید در سرت
The qualities of (self-)existence will depart from thy body, the qualities of intoxication (ecstasy) will increase in thy head (thy spiritual centre).
سمع شو یکبارگی تو گوشوار ** تا ز حلقه‌ی لعل یابی گوشوار
Become entirely hearing, like an ear, in order that thou mayst gain an ear-ring of ruby.
هم‌چو چه کن خاک می‌کن گر کسی ** زین تن خاکی که در آبی رسی
If thou art a man, dig earth, like a well-digger, from this earthen body, that thou mayst reach some water;