- That which is a beggar of sensuality—call it imagination: imagination is the counterfeit of the sterling gold of the rational faculties.
- وهم خوانش آنک شهوت را گداست ** وهم قلب نقد زر عقلهاست
- Without a touchstone, imagination and reason are not clearly distinguished: quickly bring both to the touchstone.
- بی‌محک پیدا نگردد وهم و عقل ** هر دو را سوی محک کن زود نقل
- The Qur’án and the (spiritual) state of the Prophets are this touchstone: they, like a touchstone, say to the counterfeit coin, “Come,
- این محک قرآن و حال انبیا ** چون منحک مر قلب را گوید بیا
- That by contact with me thou mayst see thyself (and know) that thou art not worthy of my higher and lower (degrees of spirituality).” 2305
- تا ببینی خویش را ز آسیب من ** که نه‌ای اهل فراز و شیب من
- If a saw make Reason (to be severed into) two halves, it (Reason) will be smiling like gold in the fire.
- عقل را گر اره‌ای سازد دو نیم ** هم‌چو زر باشد در آتش او بسیم
- Imagination belongs to Pharaoh, the world-incendiary; Reason to Moses, the spirit-enkindler.
- وهم مر فرعون عالم‌سوز را ** عقل مر موسی به جان افروز را
- Moses went on the way of non-existence (self-negation): Pharaoh said to him, “Tell (me), who art thou?”
- رفت موسی بر طریق نیستی ** گفت فرعونش بگو تو کیستی
- He said, “I am Reason, the messenger of the Almighty: I am the proof of God, I am the protection against error.”
- گفت من عقلم رسول ذوالجلال ** حجةالله‌ام امانم از ضلال
- “Nay,” said he, “hush, cease from (this ecstatic) outcry: tell (me) thy ancient lineage and name.” 2310
- گفت نی خامش رها کن های هو ** نسبت و نام قدیمت را بگو
- “My lineage,” he said, “(is derived) from His dust-pit; my original name is ‘the meanest of His slaves.’
- گفت که نسبت مر از خاکدانش ** نام اصلم کمترین بندگانش