Rumi's Masnavi - When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها می‌‌زدند

The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.

شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** می‌‌ربود آن عقل را و فهم را

After that, he came towards the Greeks: they drew up the intervening curtain. 3480

بعد از آن آمد به سوی رومیان ** پرده را بالا کشیدند از میان‌‌

The reflexion of those (Chinese) pictures and works (of art) struck upon these walls which had been made pure (from stain).

عکس آن تصویر و آن کردارها ** زد بر این صافی شده دیوارها

All that he had seen there (in the Chinese room) seemed more beautiful here: ’twas snatching the eye from the socket.

هر چه آن جا دید اینجا به نمود ** دیده را از دیده خانه می‌‌ربود

The Greeks, O father, are the Súfís: (they are) without (independent of) study and books and erudition,

رومیان آن صوفیانند ای پدر ** بی‌‌ز تکرار و کتاب و بی‌‌هنر

But they have burnished their breasts (and made them) pure from greed and cupidity and avarice and hatreds.

لیک صیقل کرده‌‌اند آن سینه‌‌ها ** پاک از آز و حرص و بخل و کینه‌‌ها

That purity of the mirror is the attribute of the heart (which) receives the infinite form. 3485

آن صفای آینه وصف دل است ** کاو نقوش بی‌‌عدد را قابل است‌‌

That Moses (the perfect saint) holds in his bosom the formless infinite form of the Unseen (reflected) from the mirror of his heart.

صورت بی‌‌صورت بی‌‌حد غیب ** ز آینه‌‌ی دل تافت بر موسی ز جیب‌‌

Although that form is not contained in Heaven, nor in the empyrean nor the earth nor the sea nor the Fish,

گر چه آن صورت نگنجد در فلک ** نه به عرش و فرش و دریا و سمک‌‌