The heart knows and yet knows not its (Destiny's) artfulness: its (hard) iron becomes (soft) as wax for the seal.
هم بداند هم نداند دل فنش ** موم گردد بهر آن مهر آهنش
’Tis as though the heart should say (to itself), “Since its (Destiny's) inclination is turned to (bringing) this (to pass), whatever may happen, let it come!”
گوییی دل گویدی که میل او ** چون درین شد هرچه افتد باش گو
Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
خویش را زین هم مغفل می‌کند ** در عقالش جان معقل می‌کند
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).2765
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیده‌ی بی‌دیدشان
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?2770
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بی‌نشان