At rest, like the (medicinal) ointment, and very active (efficacious); at rest, like the intellect, while the speech (impelled) by it is moving.
هم‌چو مرهم ساکن و بس کارکن ** چون خرد ساکن وزو جنبان سخن
In the opinion of him whose intelligence does not perceive this, earthquakes are caused by terrestrial vapours.3720
نزد آنکس که نداند عقلش این ** زلزله هست از بخارات زمین
An ant, walking on a piece of paper, saw the pen writing and began to praise the pen. Another ant, which was more keen-sighted, said, "Praise the fingers, for I deem this accomplishment to proceed from them." Another ant, more clear-sighted than either, said, "I praise the arm, for the fingers are a branch of the arm," et cetera.
موری بر کاغذ می‌رفت نبشتن قلم دید قلم را ستودن گرفت موری دیگر کی چشم تیزتر بود گفت ستایش انگشتان را کن کی آن هنر ازیشان می‌بینم موری دگر کی از هر دو چشم روشن‌تر بود گفت من بازو را ستایم کی انگشتان فرع بازواند الی آخره
A little ant saw a pen (writing) on a paper, and told this mystery to another ant,
مورکی بر کاغذی دید او قلم ** گفت با مور دگر این راز هم
Saying, “That pen made wonderful pictures like sweet basil and beds of lilies and roses.”
که عجایب نقشها آن کلک کرد ** هم‌چو ریحان و چو سوسن‌زار و ورد
The other ant said, “That artist is the finger, and this pen is actually (no more than) the derivative (instrument) and the sign.”
گفت آن مور اصبعست آن پیشه‌ور ** وین قلم در فعل فرعست و اثر
A third ant said, “It is the work of the arm, by whose strength the slender finger depicted it.”
گفت آن مور سوم کز بازوست ** که اصبع لاغر ز زورش نقش بست
In this fashion it (the argument) was carried upward till a chief of the ants, (who) was a little bit sagacious,3725
هم‌چنین می‌رفت بالا تا یکی ** مهتر موران فطن بود اندکی
Said, “Do not regard this accomplishment as proceeding from the (material) form, which becomes unconscious in sleep and death.
گفت کز صورت مبینید این هنر ** که به خواب و مرگ گردد بی‌خبر
Form is like a garment or a staff: (bodily) figures do not move except by means of intellect and spirit.”
صورت آمد چون لباس و چون عصا ** جز به عقل و جان نجنبد نقشها
He (the wise ant) was unaware that without the controlling influence of God that intellect and heart (mind) would be inert.
بی‌خبر بود او که آن عقل و فاد ** بی ز تقلیب خدا باشد جماد