The eye and the heart are between two fingers like a pen in the hand of the writer, O Husayn.
دیده و دل هست بین اصبعین ** چون قلم در دست کاتب ای حسین
(These) are the fingers of Grace and Wrath, and between them the pen, the heart, is in a state of distress or ease (caused) by these fingers.
اصبع لطفست و قهر و در میان ** کلک دل با قبض و بسطی زین بنان
O pen, if thou art one that (duly) magnifies (God), consider whose two fingers thou art between.
ای قلم بنگر گر اجلالیستی ** که میان اصبعین کیستی
All thy volition and movement are (controlled) by this finger: thy head (point) is on the crossways of the assembly-place.2780
جمله قصد و جنبشت زین اصبعست ** فرق تو بر چار راه مجمعست
These letters (symbolising) thy (diverse) states are of His inditing: thy forming a purpose and changing it is just from His forming a purpose and changing it.
این حروف حالهات از نسخ اوست ** عزم و فسخت هم ز عزم و فسخ اوست
There is no way but supplication and self-abasement: not every pen is conscious of this subjection to (Divine) control.
جز نیاز و جز تضرع راه نیست ** زین تقلب هر قلم آگاه نیست
The pen knows this (control), but (only) according to its (fore-ordained) measure: it manifests its measure (of knowledge) in good and evil (actions).
این قلم داند ولی بر قدر خود ** قدر خود پیدا کند در نیک و بد
(As regards) that (apologue) which they attached to the hare and the elephant, so that they confused (the dispensation of) eternity with (mere) tricks,
آنچ در خرگوش و پیل آویختند ** تا ازل را با حیل آمیختند
[Explaining that it is not seemly for every one to adduce parables, especially concerning Divine actions.]
بیان آنک هر کس را نرسد مثل آوردن خاصه در کار الهی
How is it seemly for you to make these similitudes and cast them at (apply them to) that holy Court?2785
کی رسدتان این مثلها ساختن ** سوی آن درگاه پاک انداختن
That use of similitudes belongs to the Lord, for He is the (sole) authority for the knowledge of the hidden and the manifest.
آن مثل آوردن آن حضرتست ** که بعلم سر و جهر او آیتست