Of what use should the possession of empires be to Him who created (all) empire and the two worlds?
آن که دولت آفرید و دو سرا ** ملک دولتها چه کار آید و را
In the presence of His Glory keep watch, then, over your hearts, lest ye be put to shame by thinking evil.
پیش سبحان بس نگه دارید دل ** تا نگردید از گمان بد خجل
For He sees conscience and thought and quest (desire) as (plainly) as a thread of hair in pure milk.3145
کاو ببیند سر و فکر و جستجو ** همچو اندر شیر خالص تار مو
He whose clear breast has become devoid of (any) image (impression) has become a mirror for the impressions of the Invisible.
آن که او بی‌‌نقش ساده سینه شد ** نقشهای غیب را آیینه شد
He becomes intuitively and undoubtingly aware of our inmost thought, because the true believer is the mirror of the true believer.
سر ما را بی‌‌گمان موقن شود ** ز آن که مومن آینه‌‌ی مومن شود
When he rubs our coin on the touchstone, then he knows the difference between faith and doubt.
چون زند او نقد ما را بر محک ** پس یقین را باز داند او ز شک
When his soul becomes the touchstone of the coin, then he will see (distinguish) the (true) heart and the false money (of hypocrisy).
چون شود جانش محک نقدها ** پس ببیند قلب را و قلب را
How kings seat in front of them the Súfís who know God, in order that their eyes may be illumined by (seeing) them.
نشاندن پادشاهان صوفیان عارف را پیش روی خویش تا چشمشان بدیشان روشن شود
Such is the custom of kings: you will have heard of this, if you remember.3150
پادشاهان را چنان عادت بود ** این شنیده باشی ار یادت بود
The paladins stand on their left hand, because the heart (the seat of courage) is fixed on the left side (of the body).
دست چپشان پهلوانان ایستند ** ز آنکه دل پهلوی چپ باشد ببند
On the right hand are the chancellor and the secretaries, because the science of writing and book-keeping belongs (in practice) to that hand.
مشرف و اهل قلم بر دست راست ** ز آن که علم و خط و ثبت آن دست راست
They give the Súfís the place in front of their countenance, for they (the Súfís) are a mirror for the soul, and better than a mirror,
صوفیان را پیش رو موضع دهند ** کاینه‌‌ی جان‌‌اند و ز آیینه بهند
(Since) they have polished their breasts (hearts) in commemoration (of God) and meditation, that the heart's mirror may receive the virgin (original) image.
سینه صیقلها زده در ذکر و فکر ** تا پذیرد آینه‌‌ی دل نقش بکر
Whoever is born beautiful from the loins of Creation, a mirror must be placed before him.3155
هر که او از صلب فطرت خوب زاد ** آینه در پیش او باید نهاد
The beauteous face is in love with the mirror: it (such a face) is a polisher of the soul and (a kindler) of the fear of God in (men's) hearts.
عاشق آیینه باشد روی خوب ** صیقل جان آمد و تقوی القلوب
How the guest came to Joseph, on whom be peace, and how Joseph demanded of him a gift and present on his return from abroad.
آمدن مهمان پیش یوسف علیه السلام و تقاضا کردن یوسف از او تحفه و ارمغان
The loving friend came from the ends of the earth and became the guest of Joseph the truthful,
آمد از آفاق یار مهربان ** یوسف صدیق را شد میهمان
For they had been acquainted in childhood, reclining (together) on the cushion of acquaintance.
کآشنا بودند وقت کودکی ** بر وساده‌‌ی آشنایی متکی
He spoke to him (Joseph) of the injustice and envy of his brethren: Joseph said, “That was (like) a chain, and I was the lion.
یاد دادش جور اخوان و حسد ** گفت کان زنجیر بود و ما اسد
The lion is not disgraced by the chain: I do not complain of God's destiny.3160
عار نبود شیر را از سلسله ** نیست ما را از قضای حق گله
If the lion had a chain on his neck, (yet) he was prince over all the chain-makers.”
شیر را بر گردن ار زنجیر بود ** بر همه زنجیر سازان میر بود
He asked, “How wert thou in regard to the prison and the well?” “Like the moon,” said Joseph, “in the interlunar period (when she is) on the wane.”
گفت چون بودی ز زندان و ز چاه ** گفت همچون در محاق و کاست ماه
If in that period the new moon is bent double, does not she at last become the full moon in the sky?
در محاق ار ماه نو گردد دو تا ** نی در آخر بدر گردد بر سما
Though the seed-pearl is pounded in the mortar, it becomes the light of eye and heart and looks aloft.
گر چه دردانه به هاون کوفتند ** نور چشم و دل شد و بیند بلند
They cast a grain of wheat under earth, then from its earth they raised up ears of corn;3165
گندمی را زیر خاک انداختند ** پس ز خاکش خوشه‌‌ها بر ساختند
Once more they crushed it with the mill: its value increased and it became soul invigorating bread;
بار دیگر کوفتندش ز آسیا ** قیمتش افزود و نان شد جان فزا
Again they crushed the bread under their teeth: it became the mind and spirit and understanding of one endowed with reason;
باز نان را زیر دندان کوفتند ** گشت عقل و جان و فهم هوشمند