Afterwards he addressed to him subtle discourses and (spoke) of the holy attributes of God—how good a Friend is He!—
بعد از آن گفتش سخنهای دقیق ** وز صفات پاک حق نعم الرفیق
And of the loving kindnesses of God to the Abdál (saints), in order that he (the ambassador) might know (the meaning of) maqám (permanent station) and hál (passing state).
وز نوازشهای حق ابدال را ** تا بداند او مقام و حال را
The hál is like the unveiling of that beauteous bride, while the maqám is the (king's) being alone with the bride.1435
حال چون جلوه ست ز آن زیبا عروس ** وین مقام آن خلوت آمد با عروس
The unveiling is witnessed by the king and by others as well, (but) at the time of being alone (with the bride) there is no one except the mighty king.
جلوه بیند شاه و غیر شاه نیز ** وقت خلوت نیست جز شاه عزیز
The bride unveils before nobles and commons (alike); in the bridal chamber the king is (alone) with the bride.
جلوه کرده خاص و عامان را عروس ** خلوت اندر شاه باشد با عروس
There is many a one of the Súfís who enjoys hál, (but) he that has attained to maqám is rare amongst them.
هست بسیار اهل حال از صوفیان ** نادر است اهل مقام اندر میان
He (‘Umar) reminded him of the stages traversed by the soul, and he reminded him of the journeys of the spirit,
از منازلهای جانش یاد داد ** وز سفرهای روانش یاد داد
And of the Time which has (ever) been void of time, and of the Station of Holiness which has (ever) been majestical,1440
وز زمانی کز زمان خالی بده ست ** وز مقام قدس که اجلالی بده ست
And of the atmosphere wherein the Símurgh of the spirit, before this (material life), has flown and experienced (the bounty of Divine) grace,
وز هوایی کاندر او سیمرغ روح ** پیش از این دیده ست پرواز و فتوح
Every single flight thereof (being) greater than the horizons (of this world) and greater than the hope and greed of the longing lover.
هر یکی پروازش از آفاق بیش ** وز امید و نهمت مشتاق بیش
When ‘Umar found the stranger in appearance a friend (in reality), he found (that) his soul (was) seeking (to learn) the (Divine) mysteries.
چون عمر اغیار رو را یار یافت ** جان او را طالب اسرار یافت
The Shaykh (‘Umar) was adept and the disciple (the ambassador) eager: the man (rider) was quick (dexterous) and the beast belonged to the royal court (was nobly bred and docile).
شیخ کامل بود و طالب مشتهی ** مرد چابک بود و مرکب درگهی
That spiritual guide (‘Umar) perceived that he (the ambassador) possessed (the capacity for receiving) guidance: he sowed the good seed in the good soil.1445
دید آن مرشد که او ارشاد داشت ** تخم پاک اندر زمین پاک کاشت
How the ambassador of Rúm questioned the Commander of the Faithful, may God be well-pleased with him.
سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر
The man said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful, how did the spirit come to the earth from above?
مرد گفتش کای امیر المؤمنین ** جان ز بالا چون در آمد در زمین
How did the infinite bird go into the cage?” He replied, “God recited spells and incantations over the spirit.
مرغ بیاندازه چون شد در قفص ** گفت حق بر جان فسون خواند و قصص
When He recites spells over the non-existences which have no eye or ear, they begin to stir.
بر عدمها کان ندارد چشم و گوش ** چون فسون خواند همیآید به جوش
Because of His spells the non-existences at that very moment are dancing joyously into existence.
از فسون او عدمها زود زود ** خوش معلق میزند سوی وجود
When, again, He recited a spell over the existent, at His word the existent marched (back) post-haste into non-existence.1450
باز بر موجود افسونی چو خواند ** زو دو اسبه در عدم موجود راند
He spake into the ear of the rose and made it laughing (blooming); He spake to the stone and made it a cornelian of the mine.
گفت در گوش گل و خندانش کرد ** گفت با سنگ و عقیق کانش کرد
He spake to the body a sign (message), so that it became spirit; He spake to the sun, so that it became radiant.
گفت با جسم آیتی تا جان شد او ** گفت با خورشید تا رخشان شد او
Again He breathes into its ear a fearful saying, and upon the face of the sun fall a hundred eclipses.
باز در گوشش دمد نکتهی مخوف ** در رخ خورشید افتد صد کسوف
Consider what that Speaker chanted into the ear of the cloud, so that it poured tears from its eye, like a waterskin.
تا به گوش ابر آن گویا چه خواند ** کاو چو مشک از دیدهی خود اشک راند
Consider what God has chanted into the ear of the earth, so that it became regardful and has (ever since) remained silent.”1455
تا به گوش خاک حق چه خوانده است ** کاو مراقب گشت و خامش مانده است
Whosoever in perplexity is sorely troubled, God has spoken the riddle into his ear,
در تردد هر که او آشفته است ** حق به گوش او معما گفته است
That He may imprison him in two (doubtful) thoughts, (namely), “Shall I do that? He said that (bade me do that) or the contrary thereof?”
تا کند محبوسش اندر دو گمان ** آن کنم کاو گفت یا خود ضد آن