Rumi's Masnavi - The gist (of the discourse) is this, that he (Moses) made a veil of his raiment, since he knew the penetrativeness of (the light of) that Moon.

The gist (of the discourse) is this, that he (Moses) made a veil of his raiment, since he knew the penetrativeness of (the light of) that Moon.

حاصل این کزلبس خویشش پرده ساخت ** که نفوذ آن قمر را می‌شناخت

Had the veil been (made) of anything except his raiment, it would have been torn to shreds, (even) if it had been (like) a solid mountain.

گر بدی پرده ز غیر لبس او ** پاره گشتی گر بدی کوه دوتو

It (the Light) would penetrate through iron walls: what contrivance could the veil employ against the Light of God? 3080

ز آهنین دیوارها نافذ شدی ** توبره با نور حق چه فن زدی

That veil had become glowing: it was the mantle of a gnostic in the moment of ecstasy.

گشته بود آن توبره صاحب تفی ** بود وقت شور خرقه‌ی عارفی

The fire is deposited (becomes immanent) in the tinder because it (the tinder) is already familiar with the fire.

زان شود آتش رهین سوخته ** کوست با آتش ز پیش آموخته

And in sooth Safúrá, from desire and love for that Light of true guidance, sacrificed both her eyes.

وز هوا و عشق آن نور رشاد ** خود صفورا هر دو دیده باد داد

At first she closed one eye and beheld the light of his (Moses') face (with the other); and that eye was lost.

اولا بر بست یک چشم و بدید ** نور روی او و آن چشمش پرید

Afterwards she could no longer restrain herself and (therefore) she opened the other (eye) and spent it on that Moon. 3085

بعد از آن صبرش نماند و آن دگر ** بر گشاد و کرد خرج آن قمر

Even so the (spiritual) warrior (first) gives away his bread; (but) when the light of devotion strikes on him, he gives away his life.

هم‌چنان مرد مجاهد نان دهد ** چون برو زد نور طاعت جان دهد

Then a woman said to her, “Art thou grieving for the jonquil-like eye that thou hast lost?”

پس زنی گفتش ز چشم عبهری ** که ز دستت رفت حسرت می‌خوری