Take not away the delightfulness of thy bounty; take not away thy dessert and wine and wine-cup!
لذت انعام خود را وامگیر ** نقل و باده و جام خود را وامگیر
And if thou take it away, who will make inquiry of thee? How should the picture strive with the painter?
ور بگیری کیت جستجو کند ** نقش با نقاش چون نیرو کند
Do not look on us, do not fix thy gaze on us: look on thine own kindness and generosity.
منگر اندر ما، مکن در ما نظر ** اندر اکرام و سخای خود نگر
We were not, and there was no demand on our part, (yet) thy grace was hearkening to our unspoken prayer (and calling us into existence).”610
ما نبودیم و تقاضامان نبود ** لطف تو ناگفته‌‌ی ما می‌‌شنود
Before the painter and the brush the picture is helpless and bound like a child in the womb.
نقش باشد پیش نقاش و قلم ** عاجز و بسته چو کودک در شکم
Before Omnipotence all the people of the (Divine) court of audience (the world) are as helpless as the (embroiderer's) fabric before the needle.
پیش قدرت خلق جمله بارگه ** عاجزان چون پیش سوزن کارگه
Now He makes the picture thereon (one of) the Devil, now (of) Adam; now He makes the picture thereon (one of) joy, now (one of) grief.
گاه نقشش دیو و گه آدم کند ** گاه نقشش شادی و گه غم کند
There is no power (to any one) that he should move a hand in defence; no (right of) speech, that he should utter a word concerning injury or benefit.
دست نه تا دست جنباند به دفع ** نطق نه تا دم زند در ضر و نفع
Recite from the Qur’án the interpretation of (i.e. a text which interprets) the (preceding) verse: God said, Thou didst not throw when thou threwest.615
تو ز قرآن باز خوان تفسیر بیت ** گفت ایزد ما رميت إذ رمیت
If we let fly an arrow, that (action) is not from us: we are (only) the bow, and the shooter of the arrow is God.
گر بپرانیم تیر آن نه ز ماست ** ما کمان و تیر اندازش خداست