If I see any one in the world by night, I know him by day without (having any) doubt (as to his identity).”
هر که را شب بینم اندر قیروان ** روز بشناسم من او را بی‌گمان
Another said, “My specialty lies in my arm: I make tunnels (through walls) by strength of hand.”
گفت یک خاصیتم در بازو است ** که زنم من نقبها با زور دست
Another said, “My specialty lies in my nose: my business is to detect the (characteristic) smell in (different) earths (soils).2825
گفت یک خاصیتم در بینی است ** کار من در خاکها بوبینی است
The secret of ‘men are mines’ has yielded itself (to me), so that (I know the reason) why the Prophet has said it.
سرالناس معادن داد دست ** که رسول آن را پی چه گفته است
From (smelling) the earth of the body I know how much good ore is (hidden) therein and what (sort of) mine it holds.
من ز خاک تن بدانم کاندر آن ** چند نقدست و چه دارد او ز کان
In one mine is contained gold immeasurable, while (in the case of) another the revenue (derived) from it is less than the expenditure (cost of working it).
در یکی کان زر بی‌اندازه درج ** وان دگر دخلش بود کمتر ز خرج
Like Majnún, I smell the soil and detect the soil (abode) of Laylá without mistake.
هم‌چو مجنون بو کنم من خاک را ** خاک لیلی را بیابم بی‌خطا
I smell and know from (the scent of) every shirt whether ’tis (belongs to) a Joseph or an Ahriman (devil).2830
بو کنم دانم ز هر پیراهنی ** گر بود یوسف و گر آهرمنی
Like Ahmad (Mohammed), who catches scent from Yemen, this nose of mine has gained (been endowed with) some portion of that (spiritual faculty),
هم‌چو احمد که برد بو از یمن ** زان نصیبی یافت این بینی من
(So that I can smell) which soil is a neighbour of gold, or which soil is empty and poor.”
که کدامین خاک همسایه‌ی زرست ** یا کدامین خاک صفر و ابترست