Oh, there is much gold made black with smoke, that it may be saved from (falling into) the hands of every envious thief.
ای بسا زر سیه کرده بدود ** تا رهد از دست هر دزدی حسود
Oh, there is much copper gilded with gold, that he (the counterfeiter) may sell it to (those of) small understanding.
ای بسا مس زر اندوده به زر ** تا فروشد آن به عقل مختصر
We, who see the inward (reality) of the whole world, see the heart and look not on the outward form.”
ما که باطن‌بین جمله‌ی کشوریم ** دل ببینیم و به ظاهر ننگریم
The cadis who are concerned with the outward form (the letter of the law) give judgement according to outward appearances.2175
قاضیانی که به ظاهر می‌تنند ** حکم بر اشکال ظاهر می‌کنند
When he (the suspected person) has uttered the profession of the Faith and has shown some (formal sign of) true belief, at once these people (the cadis) pronounce him a true believer.
چون شهادت گفت و ایمانی نمود ** حکم او مومن کنند این قوم زود
There is many a hypocrite who has taken refuge in this out ward form and has shed the blood of a hundred true believers in secret.
بس منافق کاندرین ظاهر گریخت ** خون صد مومن به پنهانی بریخت
Endeavour to become old in intelligence and religion, that you may become, like the Universal Intelligence, a seer of the in ward (reality).
جهد کن تا پیر عقل و دین شوی ** تا چو عقل کل تو باطن‌بین شوی
When the beauteous Intelligence unveiled its face (revealed itself) from non-existence, He (God) gave it a robe of honour and a thousand names.
از عدم چون عقل زیبا رو گشاد ** خلعتش داد و هزارش نام داد
Of those sweet-breathing names the least is this, that it (the Intelligence) is not in need of any one.2180
کمترین زان نامهای خوش‌نفس ** این که نبود هیچ او محتاج کس
If the Intelligence display its face in visible form, day will be dark beside its light;
گر به صورت وا نماید عقل رو ** تیره باشد روز پیش نور او