Therefore samá‘ (music) is the food of lovers (of God), since therein is the phantasy of composure (tranquillity of mind).
پس غدای عاشقان آمد سماع ** که درو باشد خیال اجتماع
From (hearing) sounds and pipings the mental phantasies gather a (great) strength; nay, they become forms (in the imagination).
قوتی گیرد خیالات ضمیر ** بلک صورت گردد از بانگ و صفیر
The fire of love is made keen (inflamed) by melodies, just as the fire (ardour) of the man who dropped walnuts (into the water).
آتش عشق از نواها گشت تیز ** آن چنان که آتش آن جوزریز
Story of the thirsty man who dropped walnuts from the top of a walnut-tree into the water-brook that was in the hollow, without reaching the water (himself), in order that he might hear the sound made by the walnuts falling on the water, which thrilled him with joy as (though it were) sweet music.
حکایت آن مرد تشنه کی از سر جوز بن جوز می‌ریخت در جوی آب کی در گو بود و به آب نمی‌رسید تا به افتادن جوز بانگ آب# بشنود و او را چو سماع خوش بانگ آب اندر طرب می‌آورد
The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one.745
در نغولی بود آب آن تشنه راند ** بر درخت جوز جوزی می‌فشاند
The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
می‌فتاد از جوزبن جوز اندر آب ** بانگ می‌آمد همی دید او حباب
A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
عاقلی گفتش که بگذار ای فتی ** جوزها خود تشنگی آرد ترا
The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
بیشتر در آب می‌افتد ثمر ** آب در پستیست از تو دور در
The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”
تا تو از بالا فرو آیی به زور ** آب جویش برده باشد تا به دور
He replied, “My purpose in this scattering is not (to obtain possession of) the walnuts: look more keenly, do not stop at this superficial (view).750