Manifestly, in dispelling the darkness, the external (material) flame is maintained by a wax candle;
هست اندر دفع ظلمت آشکار ** آتش صورت به مومی پایدار
(But) the candle (which is) the body is contrary to the wax candle, since in proportion as that (the body) dwindles, the light of the spirit is increased.680
برخلاف موم شمع جسم کان ** تا شود کم گردد افزون نور جان
This is the everlasting radiance, and that (bodily candle) is perishable: the candle of the spirit hath a Divine flame.
این شعاع باقی و آن فانیست ** شمع جان را شعله‌ی ربانیست
Since this tongue of fire was (really) light, ’twas far from it to become a perishable shadow.
این زبانه‌ی آتشی چون نور بود ** سایه‌ی فانی شدن زو دور بود
The cloud's shadow falls on the earth: the shadow never consorts with the moon.
ابر را سایه بیفتد در زمین ** ماه را سایه نباشد همنشین
Selflessness is cloudlessness, O well-disposed one: in (the state of) selflessness thou wilt be like the orb of the moon.
بی‌خودی بی‌ابریست ای نیک‌خواه ** باشی اندر بی‌خودی چون قرص ماه
Again, when a cloud comes, driven along, the light goes: of the moon there remains (only) a phantom.685
باز چون ابری بیاید رانده ** رفت نور از مه خیالی مانده
Its light is made feeble by the cloud-veil: that noble full-moon becomes less than the new moon.
از حجاب ابر نورش شد ضعیف ** کم ز ماه نو شد آن بدر شریف
The moon is made to appear a phantom by clouds and dust: the cloud, (which is) the body, has caused us to conceive phantasies.
مه خیالی می‌نماید ز ابر و گرد ** ابر تن ما را خیال‌اندیش کرد
Behold the kindness of the (Divine) Moon; for this too is His kindness, that He hath said, ‘The clouds are enemies to Us.’
لطف مه بنگر که این هم لطف اوست ** که بگفت او ابرها ما را عدوست