Look on houses and edifices: they were as tales in the (mind of) the architect.965
بنگر اندر خانه و کاشانهها ** در مهندس بود چون افسانهها
Such-and-such a house, which seemed to us beautiful, of which the hall, roof, and door were well-proportioned—
آن فلان خانه که ما دیدیم خوش ** بود موزون صفه و سقف و درش
(’Twas) the accident (design) and ideas (proceeding) from the architect (that) brought the tools (into existence) and the pillars (which come) from the forests.
از مهندس آن عرض و اندیشهها ** آلت آورد و ستون از بیشهها
What but some fancy and accident and idea is the origin and source of every handicraft?
چیست اصل و مایهی هر پیشهای ** جز خیال و جز عرض و اندیشهای
Look disinterestedly on all the (various) parts of the world: they are not the result of (anything) except accident.
جمله اجزای جهان را بیغرض ** درنگر حاصل نشد جز از عرض
The beginning, which is thought, comes to an end in action; know that in such wise was the construction of the world in eternity.970
اول فکر آخر آمد در عمل ** بنیت عالم چنان دان در ازل
The fruits are first in the mind's thought, (but only) at the last do they become manifest actually:
میوهها در فکر دل اول بود ** در عمل ظاهر به آخر میشود
When you have done work (and) planted the tree—at the end (when the fruit appears) you read the first words.
چون عمل کردی شجر بنشاندی ** اندر آخر حرف اول خواندی
Although its boughs, leaves, and roots are first, (yet) all those are sent for the sake of the fruit.
گر چه شاخ و برگ و بیخش اول است ** آن همه از بهر میوه مرسل است
Hence that hidden Thought which was the brain (core) of those (nine) heavens was in the end the lord of lawlák.
پس سری که مغز آن افلاک بود ** اندر آخر خواجهی لولاک بود