Although the fleshly soul is sagacious and acute, its qibla (objective) is this world, (therefore) regard it as dead.
نفس اگر چه زیرکست و خردهدان ** قبلهاش دنیاست او را مرده دان
(But when) the water of God's inspiration has reached this dead (soul), the living (soul) comes into view (rises) from the tomb of a corpse.
آب وحی حق بدین مرده رسید ** شد ز خاک مردهای زنده پدید
Until inspiration comes, do not thou (meanwhile) be duped by that rouge (vanity) of “May his life be long!”
تا نیاید وحش تو غره مباش ** تو بدان گلگونهی طال بقاش
Seek the applause and renown that does not die away, the splendour of the sun that does not sink.
بانگ و صیتی جو که آن خامل نشد ** تاب خورشیدی که آن آفل نشد
Those abstruse sciences and disputations are (like) the people of Pharaoh: Death is like the water of the Nile.1660
آن هنرهای دقیق و قال و قیل ** قوم فرعوناند اجل چون آب نیل
Although their brilliance and pomp and show and enchantment drag the people along by the scruff of the neck,
رونق و طاق و طرنب و سحرشان ** گرچه خلقان را کشد گردن کشان
Know that all (that) is (like) the enchantments of the magicians; know that Death is (like) the rod (of Moses) which became a dragon.
سحرهای ساحران دان جمله را ** مرگ چوبی دان که آن گشت اژدها
It made one mouthful of all (their) sorceries. There was a world filled with night: the dawn devoured it.
جادویها را همه یک لقمه کرد ** یک جهان پر شب بد آن را صبح خورد
The light is not made greater and more by that (act of) devouring; nay, it is just the same as it has (always) been before.
نور از آن خوردن نشد افزون و بیش ** بل همان سانست کو بودست پیش
It is increased in respect of the effect (which it has produced), but not in respect of its essence: the essence hath (suffers) no increase or diminution.1665
در اثر افزون شد و در ذات نی ** ذات را افزونی و آفات نی