تو مرا گویی که از بهر ثواب ** غسل ناکرده مرو در حوض آب
You say to me, “For the sake of the (Divine) reward, do not go into the water-tank without having washed”;
از برون حوض غیر خاک نیست ** هر که او در حوض ناید پاک نیست
(But) outside of the tank there is nothing but earth: no one who does not enter the tank is clean.
گر نباشد آبها را این کرم ** کو پذیرد مر خبث را دم به دم
If the waters have not the grace to receive filth continually,
وای بر مشتاق و بر اومید او ** حسرتا بر حسرت جاوید او 1200
Alas for the longing lover and his hope! Oh, sorrow for his everlasting sorrow!
آب دارد صد کرم صد احتشام ** که پلیدان را پذیرد والسلام
(Nay, but) the water hath a hundred graces, a hundred (noble) pities, for it receives the defiled ones (and purifies them)—and peace (be with thee)!
ای ضیاء الحق حسام‌الدین که نور ** پاسبان تست از شر الطیور
O thou Radiance of God, Husámu’ddín, the Light is thy protector from the worst of flying creatures.
پاسبان تست نور و ارتقاش ** ای تو خورشید مستر از خفاش
The Light and its ascent are thy protector, O Sun who art concealed from the bat.
چیست پرده پیش روی آفتاب ** جز فزونی شعشعه و تیزی تاب
The veil before the face of the Sun, what is it but excess of brilliance and intensity of splendour?
پرده‌ی خورشید هم نور ربست ** بی‌نصیب از وی خفاشست و شبست 1205
The veil over the Sun is just the Light of the Lord: the bat and the night have no lot therein.
هر دو چون در بعد و پرده مانده‌اند ** یا سیه‌رو یا فسرده مانده‌اند
Inasmuch as both (of them) have remained far (from the Sun) and veiled (from it), they have remained either black-faced (like Night) or cold (like the bat).
چون نبشتی بعضی از قصه‌ی هلال ** داستان بدر آر اندر مقال
Since thou hast written part of the story of the New-moon (Hilál), (now) put into words the tale of the Full-moon.
آن هلال و بدر دارند اتحاد ** از دوی دورند و از نقص و فساد
The New-moon and the Full-moon have oneness (with each other): they are far from duality and from imperfection and corruption.
آن هلال از نقص در باطن بریست ** آن به ظاهر نقص تدریج آوریست
The new-moon is inwardly free from imperfection: its apparent imperfection is (due to its) increasing gradually.
درس گوید شب به شب تدریج را ** در تانی بر دهد تفریج را 1210
Night by night it gives a lesson in gradualness, and with deliberation it produces relief (for itself).
در تانی گوید ای عجول خام ** پایه‌پایه بر توان رفتن به بام
With deliberation it says, “O hasty fool, (only) step by step can one mount to the roof.”
دیگ را تدریج و استادانه جوش ** کار ناید قلیه‌ی دیوانه جوش
Let the cooking-pot boil gradually, as a skilful (cook) does: the stew boiled in a mad hurry is of no use.
حق نه قادر بود بر خلق فلک ** در یکی لحظه به کن بی‌هیچ شک
Was not God able to create heaven in one moment by (the word) “Be”? Without any doubt (He was).
پس چرا شش روز آن را درکشید ** کل یوم الف عام ای مستفید
Why, then, O seeker of instruction, did He extend (the time) for it to six days, every day (being as long as) a thousand years?
خلقت طفل از چه اندر نه مه‌است ** زانک تدریج از شعار آن شه‌است 1215
Wherefore is the creation of a child (completed) in nine months? Because gradualness is a characteristic of (the action of) that King.
خلقت آدم چرا چل صبح بود ** اندر آن گل اندک‌اندک می‌فزود
Why was (the time occupied in) the creation of Adam forty mornings? (Because) He (God) was adding (perfections) to that clay little by little,
نه چو تو ای خام که اکنون تاختی ** طفلی و خود را تو شیخی ساختی
Not like you, O foolish one, who have rushed forward just now: you are a child, and you have made yourself out to be an Elder.
بر دویدی چون کدو فوق همه ** کو ترا پای جهاد و ملحمه
You have run up, like a gourd, to the top of all, (but) where is the (spiritual) warfare and combat to sustain you?
تکیه کردی بر درختان و جدار ** بر شدی ای اقرعک هم قرع‌وار
You have rested on trees and walls for support: you have climbed up like a pumpkin, O little baldhead.
اول ار شد مرکبت سرو سهی ** لیک آخر خشک و بی‌مغزی تهی 1220
If at first you mounted on a tall cypress, yet in the end you are dry and pulpless and empty.
رنگ سبزت زرد شد ای قرع زود ** زانک از گلگونه بود اصلی نبود
Your green (fresh) colour soon turned yellow (faded), O pumpkin, for it was derived from rouge, it was not original.
داستان آن عجوزه کی روی زشت خویشتن را جندره و گلگونه می‌ساخت و ساخته نمی‌شد و پذیرا نمی‌آمد
Story of the old woman who used to depilate and rouge her ugly face, though it could never be put right and become pleasing.