(Adoration of) a stone image consumed the (past) generations and kindled a fire (of love for it) in their religion and their hearts.3765
قرنها را صورت سنگین بسوخت ** آتشی در دین و دلشان بر فروخت
When it (the image) is spiritual, how (ravishing) must it be! Its fascination changes at every moment.
چونک روحانی بود خود چون بود ** فتنه‌اش هر لحظه دیگرگون بود
Since love of the pictured form was stabbing the hearts of the princes like a spear-point,
عشق صورت در دل شه‌زادگان ** چون خلش می‌کرد مانند سنان
Each (of them) was shedding tears, like a cloud, and gnawing his hands and crying, “Oh, alas!
اشک می‌بارید هر یک هم‌چو میغ ** دست می‌خایید و می‌گفت ای دریغ
Now we see (what) the King saw at the beginning. How often did that peerless one adjure us!”
ما کنون دیدیم شه ز آغاز دید ** چندمان سوگند داد آن بی‌ندید
The prophets have conferred a great obligation (on us) because they have made us aware of the end,3770
انبیا را حق بسیارست از آن ** که خبر کردند از پایانمان
Saying, “That which thou art sowing will produce naught but thorns; and (if) thou fly in this (worldly) direction thou wilt find there no room to fly (beyond).
کاینچ می‌کاری نروید جز که خار ** وین طرف پری نیابی زو مطار
Get the seed from me, that it may yield a (good) crop; fly with my wings, that the arrow may speed Yonder.
تخم از من بر که تا ریعی دهد ** با پر من پر که تیر آن سو جهد
(If) thou dost not recognise the necessity and (real) existence of that (flight to God), yet in the end thou wilt confess that it was necessary.”
تو ندانی واجبی آن و هست ** هم تو گویی آخر آن واجب بدست
He (the prophet) is thou, but not this (unreal) “thou”: (he is) that “thou” which in the end is conscious of escape (from the world of illusion).
او توست اما نه این تو آن توست ** که در آخر واقف بیرون‌شوست