What has the noise of the bowl of magic left behind but execration? What has the noise of the bowl of religion left behind but sublimity?
بانگ طشت سحر جز لعنت چه ماند ** بانگ طشت دین به جز رفعت چه ماند
Since the touchstone has become hidden from man and woman, O adulterated coin, come now into line (with the genuine coin) and brag!
چون محک پنهان شدست از مرد و زن ** در صف آ ای قلب و اکنون لاف زن
’Tis the time for thee to brag. Since the touchstone is absent, they will pass thee in honour from hand to hand.
وقت لافستت محک چون غایبست ** میبرندت از عزیزی دست دست
The adulterated coin is ever saying to me arrogantly, “O pure gold, how am I inferior to thee?”
قلب میگوید ز نخوت هر دمم ** ای زر خالص من از تو کی کمم
The gold says, “Yes, O fellow-servant; but the touchstone is coming: be prepared.”1680
زر همیگوید بلی ای خواجهتاش ** لیک میآید محک آماده باش
The death of the body is a (welcome) gift to the adepts of the mystery: what damage is (done by) the scissors to pure gold?
مرگ تن هدیهست بر اصحاب راز ** زر خالص را چه نقصانست گاز
If the adulterated coin had seen the end in regard to itself, it would have become at first the black (thing) which it became in the end.
قلب اگر در خویش آخربین بدی ** آن سیه که آخر شد او اول شدی
Since (in that case) it would have become black at first, in confrontation (with the genuine coin) it would have been far from duplicity and damnation.
چون شدی اول سیه اندر لقا ** دور بودی از نفاق و از شقا
It would have sought the elixir of (Divine) grace; its reason would have prevailed over its hypocrisy.
کیمیای فضل را طالب بدی ** عقل او بر زرق او غالب بدی
Since it would have become broken-hearted on account of its (evil) state, it would have seen before it Him who mends them that are broken.1685
چون شکستهدل شدی از حال خویش ** جابر اشکستگان دیدی به پیش