Many a tale of thy love have I recited with (all) my soul: (now) that I have become (unsubstantial as) a tale, do thou recite mine.
بس فسانهی عشق تو خواندم به جان ** تو مرا که افسانه گشتستم بخوان
Verily thou art reciting, O model (for all), not I: I am Mount Sinai, thou art Moses, and this (discourse) is the echo.
خود تو میخوانی نه من ای مقتدی ** من که طورم تو موسی وین صدا
How should the helpless mountain know what the words are? The mountain is empty of that (meaning) which Moses knows.
کوه بیچاره چه داند گفت چیست ** زانک موسی میبداند که تهیست
The mountain knows (only) according to its own measure: the body hath (only) a little of the grace of the spirit.1900
کوه میداند به قدر خویشتن ** اندکی دارد ز لطف روح تن
The body is like the astrolabe in respect of (the use of the latter in) calculation (of altitudes): it is a sign (for seekers) of the sun-like spirit.
تن چو اصطرلاب باشد ز احتساب ** آیتی از روح همچون آفتاب
When the astronomer is not keen-sighted, an astrolabe-moulder is required,
آن منجم چون نباشد چشمتیز ** شرط باشد مرد اصطرلابریز
To make an astrolabe for him in order that he may gain some knowledge concerning the state of the sun.
تا صطرلابی کند از بهر او ** تا برد از حالت خورشید بو
The soul that seeks (to learn) the truth from the (bodily) astrolabe—how much should it know of the (spiritual) sky and sun?
جان کز اصطرلاب جوید او صواب ** چه قدر داند ز چرخ و آفتاب
You who observe (them) with the astrolabe of the eye are certainly very far short (of perfection) in your view of the (spiritual) world.1905
تو که ز اصطرب دیده بنگری ** درجهان دیدن یقین بس قاصری
You have seen the (spiritual) world according to the measure of your eye, (and) where is the (spiritual) world (in relation to that)? Why, (then), have you twisted your moustache (so boastfully)?
تو جهان را قدر دیده دیدهای ** کو جهان سبلت چرا مالیدهای