Oh, how many structures hidden (from sight) and plain to see has He enclosed in this roof (heaven) and this carpet (earth)!
ای بسا بنیادها پنهان و فاش ** مضمر این سقف کرد و این فراش
Adam is the astrolabe of the attributes of (Divine) Sublimity: the nature of Adam is the theatre for His revelations.
آدم اصطرلاب اوصاف علوست ** وصف آدم مظهر آیات اوست
Whatever appears in him (Adam) is the reflexion of Him, just as the moon is reflected in the water of the river.
هرچه در وی می‌نماید عکس اوست ** هم‌چو عکس ماه اندر آب جوست
The figures (cut) on the “spider” (uppermost tablet) on his astrolabe are there for the sake of (typifying) the Eternal Attributes,3140
بر صطرلابش نقوش عنکبوت ** بهر اوصاف ازل دارد ثبوت
In order that its “spider” may give lessons in exposition of the sky of the Unseen and the sun of the Spirit.
تا ز چرخ غیب وز خورشید روح ** عنکبوتش درس گوید از شروح
Without a (spiritual) astronomer (to explain their significance), the “spider” and this astrolabe which guides aright fall (uselessly) into the hands of the vulgar.
عنکبوت و این صطرلاب رشاد ** بی‌منجم در کف عام اوفتاد
God bestowed (knowledge of) this (spiritual) astronomy on the prophets: for (the mysteries of) the Unseen an eye that observes the Unseen is necessary.
انبیا را داد حق تنجیم این ** غیب را چشمی بباید غیب‌بین
These (worldly) generations fell into the well of the present world: every one saw in the well his own reflexion.
در چه دنیا فتادند این قرون ** عکس خود را دید هر یک چه درون
Know that what appears to you in the well is (really) from outside; else you are (like) the lion that plunged into the well (and was drowned).3145
از برون دان آنچ در چاهت نمود ** ورنه آن شیری که در چه شد فرود
A hare led him astray, saying, “O such-and-such, this furious lion (thy rival) is at the bottom of the well.
برد خرگوشیش از ره کای فلان ** در تگ چاهست آن شیر ژیان