Rumi's Masnavi - For that (second) blackness has fallen (been made) upon blackness; (hence) both scripts have become obscure and have given no meaning.

For that (second) blackness has fallen (been made) upon blackness; (hence) both scripts have become obscure and have given no meaning.

کان سیاهی بر سیاهی اوفتاد ** هر دو خط شد کور و معنیی نداد

And if you write a third time on the top of it, then you make it black as a soul full of wickedness. 3385

ور سوم باره نویسی بر سرش ** پس سیه کردی چو جان کافرش‏

What help is there, then, but (to take) refuge with (God) the Helper? Despair is copper, and the elixir for it is (God's) regard.

پس چه چاره جز پناه چاره‏گر ** ناامیدی مس و اکسیرش نظر

Lay your despairs before Him, that ye may escape from irremediable pain.

ناامیدیها به پیش او نهید ** تا ز درد بی‏دوا بیرون جهید

When Shu‘ayb had told him these deep sayings, at that breath of the spirit roses blossomed in his heart.

چون شعیب این نکته‏ها با او بگفت ** ز آن دم جان در دل او گل شکفت‏

His soul hearkened to the inspiration from Heaven; he said, (however), “If He hath punished me, where is the sign?”

جان او بشنید وحی آسمان ** گفت اگر بگرفت ما را کو نشان‏

He (Shu‘ayb) cried, “O Lord, he rebuts me, he seeks the sign of that punishment.” 3390

گفت یا رب دفع من می‏گوید او ** آن گرفتن را نشان می‏جوید او

He (God) said, “I am the Coverer (of sins): I will not tell his secrets, (I will give) but one indication for the sake of trying him.

گفت ستارم نگویم رازهاش ** جز یکی رمز از برای ابتلاش‏

One sign of My punishing him is this, that he has (to his credit) pious acts of fasting and orison

یک نشان آن که می‏گیرم و را ** آن که طاعت دارد از صوم و دعا

And ritual prayer and almsgiving et cetera, but he has not one atom of spiritual savour.

و ز نماز و از زکات و غیر آن ** لیک یک ذره ندارد ذوق جان‏