Until the thief say to him, “’Tis I that stole from thee, for I am an artful thief,”
تا نگوید دزد او را کان منم ** کز تو دزدیدم که دزد پر فنم
How should the blind man know his thief, since he hath not the eye's light and that radiance (of vision)?
کی شناسد کور دزد خویش را ** چون ندارد نور چشم و آن ضیا
When he (the thief) speaks (and confesses), at once take tight hold of him, that he may tell the marks (descriptive) of the (stolen) goods.
چون بگوید هم بگیر او را تو سخت ** تا بگوید او علامتهای رخت
The Greater Jihád (Holy War), then, consists in squeezing the thief, in order that he may tell what he has stolen and what he has carried off.
پس جهاد اکبر آمد عصر دزد ** تا بگوید که چه دزدیده است مزد
First, he has stolen your eye-salve; when you take it (from him), you will regain (your) insight.2380
اولا دزدید کحل دیدهات ** چون ستانی باز یابی تبصرت
The goods of wisdom, which have been lost by (your) heart, are certainly to be found with the man of heart (the saint).
کالهی حکمت که گم کردهی دل است ** پیش اهل دل یقین آن حاصل است
The blind of heart, notwithstanding (his possession of) life and hearing and sight, is never knowing the devilish thief by the traces (which he leaves).
کوردل با جان و با سمع و بصر ** مینداند دزد شیطان را ز اثر
Seek (that knowledge) from the man of heart; do not seek it from the inanimate, for (all other) people are inanimate beside (in comparison with) him.
ز اهل دل جو از جماد آن را مجو ** که جماد آمد خلایق پیش او
The seeker of counsel approached him (the saint who was feigning madness), saying, “O father who hast become (as) a child, tell (me) a secret.”
مشورت جوینده آمد نزد او ** کای اب کودک شده رازی بگو
He answered, “Begone from this door-ring, for this door is not open. Turn back: to-day is not the day for secrets.2385
گفت رو زین حلقه کاین در باز نیست ** باز گرد امروز روز راز نیست