Rumi's Masnavi - How wilt thou know the cries of the birds, when thou hast never seen Solomon for a single moment?

How wilt thou know the cries of the birds, when thou hast never seen Solomon for a single moment?

تو چه دانی بانگ مرغان را همی ** چون ندیده‏ستی سلیمان را دمی‏

The wings of that bird whose note thrills (them that can hear it) are beyond East and West. 3760

پر آن مرغی که بانگش مطرب است ** از برون مشرق است و مغرب است‏

Its every course is from the Footstool of God to the earth, and from the earth to the Throne of God it moves in glory and majesty.

هر یک آهنگش ز کرسی تاثری است ** وز ثری تا عرش در کر و فری است‏

The bird that goes without this Solomon is in love with darkness, like a bat.

مرغ کاو بی‏این سلیمان می‏رود ** عاشق ظلمت چو خفاشی بود

Make thyself familiar with Solomon, O reprobate bat, in order that thou mayst not remain in darkness for ever.

با سلیمان خو کن ای خفاش رد ** تا که در ظلمت نمانی تا ابد

When thou goest one ell's length in that direction, like the ell thou wilt become the standard of measurement;

یک گزی ره که بدان سو می‏روی ** همچو گز قطب مساحت می‏شوی‏

And (even by) thy hopping lamely and limply in that direction, thou wilt be freed from all lameness and limpness. 3765

و انکه لنگ و لوک آن سو می‏جهی ** از همه لنگی و لوکی می‏رهی‏

The story of the ducklings which were fostered by a domestic fowl.

قصه‏ی بط بچگان که مرغ خانگی پروردشان‏

Thou art the offspring of a duck, though a domestic fowl has fostered thee as a nurse beneath her wing.

تخم بطی گر چه مرغ خانه‏ات ** کرد زیر پر چو دایه تربیت‏

Thy mother was the duck of that Sea; thy nurse was of the earth and devoted to the dry land.

مادر تو بط آن دریا بده‏ست ** دایه‏ات خاکی بد و خشکی پرست‏

The desire which is in thy heart for the Sea—thy soul hath that nature (instinct) from thy mother.

میل دریا که دل تو اندر است ** آن طبیعت جانت را از مادر است‏