The gifts of lovers to one another are, in respect of love, naught but forms;
هدیه‌‌های دوستان با همدیگر ** نیست اندر دوستی الا صور
(But the purpose is) that the gifts may have borne testimony to feelings of love which are concealed in secrecy,
تا گواهی داده باشد هدیه‌ها ** بر محبتهای مضمر در خفا
Because outward acts of kindness bear witness to feelings of love in the heart, O dear friend.
ز آن که احسانهای ظاهر شاهدند ** بر محبتهای سر ای ارجمند
Your witness is sometimes true, sometimes false, sometimes drunken with wine, sometimes with sour curds.
شاهدت گه راست باشد گه دروغ ** مست گاهی از می و گاهی ز دوغ
He that has drunk sour curds makes a show of intoxication, shouts ecstatically, and behaves like one whose head is heavy (with the fumes of wine);2630
دوغ خورده مستیی پیدا کند ** های و هوی و سر گرانیها کند
That hypocrite is (assiduous) in fasting and praying, in order that it may be supposed that he is drunken with devotion (to God).
آن مرایی در صیام و در صلاست ** تا گمان آید که او مست ولاست
In short, external acts are different (from internal feelings), (and their purpose is) to indicate that which is hidden.
حاصل افعال برونی دیگر است ** تا نشان باشد بر آن چه مضمر است
O Lord, grant us according to our desire such discernment that we may know the false indication from the true.
یا رب آن تمییز ده ما را به خواست ** تا شناسیم آن نشان کژ ز راست
Do you know how the sense-perception becomes discerning? In this way, that the sense-perception should be seeing by the light of God.
حس را تمییز دانی چون شود ** آن که حس ینظر بنور الله بود
And if there be no effect (outward sign), the cause too makes manifest (that which is hidden), as (for example) kinship gives information concerning love (enables you to infer the presence of love).2635
ور اثر نبود سبب هم مظهر است ** همچو خویشی کز محبت مخبر است