In order that the mirror (intelligence) may have (a bright) lustre; for purity comes to the breast (heart) from piety.
تا جلا باشد مر آن آیینه را ** که صفا آید ز طاعت سینه را
But if the mirror is fundamentally depraved, (only) after a long time does the polisher get it back (to purity);
لیک گر آیینه از بن فاسدست ** صیقل او را دیر باز آرد به دست
While (in the case of) the fine mirror, which is (like) a goodly planting-ground, a little polishing is enough for it.
وان گزین آیینه که خوش مغرس است ** اندکی صیقل گری آن را بس است
The diversity of intelligences in their nature as originally created; (a doctrine) opposed to (that of) the Mu‘tazilites, who assert that particular (individual) intelligences are originally equal, and that this superiority and diversity is the result of learning and training and experience.
تفاوت عقول در اصل فطرت خلاف معتزله کی ایشان گویند در اصل عقول جز وی برابرند این افزونی و تفاوت از تعلم است و ریاضت و تجربه
Know well that intelligences differ thus in degree from the earth to the sky.
این تفاوت عقلها را نیک دان ** در مراتب از زمین تا آسمان
There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor.460
هست عقلی همچو قرص آفتاب ** هست عقلی کمتر از زهره و شهاب
There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,
هست عقلی چون چراغی سرخوشی ** هست عقلی چون ستارهی آتشی
Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.
زانک ابر از پیش آن چون وا جهد ** نور یزدانبین خردها بر دهد
The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).
عقل جزوی عقل را بدنام کرد ** کام دنیا مرد را بیکام کرد
That (universal intelligence), through being a prey (to God), beheld the beauty of the (Divine) Hunting, while this (particular intelligence), through being a hunter (of worldly goods), suffered the pain of being a prey (to perdition).
آن ز صیدی حسن صیادی بدید ** وین ز صیادی غم صیدی کشید
The former, through service, gained the pride of lordship, while the latter, through lordship, turned from the path of glory.465
آن ز خدمت ناز مخدومی بیافت ** وآن ز مخدومی ز راه عز بتافت