Now, after we have been made prisoners and a prey, the hidden malady has become apparent.”
علت پنهان کنون شد آشکار ** بعد از آنک بند گشتیم و شکار
The shadow (protection) of the (spiritual) Guide is better than praising God (by one's self): a single (feeling of) contentment is better than a hundred viands and trays (of food).
سایهی رهبر بهست از ذکر حق ** یک قناعت به که صد لوت و طبق
A seeing eye is better than three hundred (blind men's) staves: the eye knows (can distinguish) pearls from pebbles.3785
چشم بینا بهتر از سیصد عصا ** چشم بشناسد گهر را از حصا
(Moved) by sorrows (pains of love) they began to make inquiry, saying, “Who in the world, we wonder, is she of whom this is the portrait?”
در تفحص آمدند از اندهان ** صورت کی بود عجب این در جهان
After much inquiry in (the course of their) travel, a Shaykh endowed with insight disclosed the mystery,
بعد بسیاری تفحص در مسیر ** کشف کرد آن راز را شیخی بصیر
Not (verbally) by way of the ear, but (silently) by inspiration (derived) from Reason: to him (all) mysteries were unveiled.
نه از طریق گوش بل از وحی هوش ** رازها بد پیش او بی رویپوش
He said, “This is the portrait of (her who is) an object of envy to the Pleiades: this is the picture of the Princess of China.
گفت نقش رشک پروینست این ** صورت شهزادهی چینست این
She is hidden like the spirit and like the embryo: she is (kept) in a secret bower and palace.3790
همچو جان و چون جنین پنهانست او ** در مکتم پرده و ایوانست او
Neither man nor woman is admitted to her (presence): the King has concealed her on account of her fascinations.
سوی او نه مرد ره دارد نه زن ** شاه پنهان کرد او را از فتن
The King has a (great) jealousy for her (good) name, so that not even a bird flies above her roof.”
غیرتی دارد ملک بر نام او ** که نپرد مرغ هم بر بام او