Rumi's Masnavi - Hast thou ever seen a subject that shows without (the existence of) an object that is shown: unless there is the road, there can never be the ghoul (which entices travelers to stray from the road).

Hast thou ever seen a subject that shows without (the existence of) an object that is shown: unless there is the road, there can never be the ghoul (which entices travelers to stray from the road). 3455

دیده‌‌ای دلال بی‌‌مدلول هیچ ** تا نباشد جاده نبود غول هیچ‌‌

Hast thou ever seen a name without the reality (denoted by the name)? Or hast thou plucked a rose (gul) from the (letters) gáf and lám of (the word) gul?

هیچ نامی بی‌‌حقیقت دیده‌‌ای ** یا ز گاف و لام گل گل چیده‌‌ای‌‌

Thou hast pronounced the name: go, seek the thing named. Know that the moon is on high, not in the water of the stream.

اسم خواندی رو مسمی را بجو ** مه به بالا دان نه اندر آب جو

If thou wouldst pass beyond name and letter, oh, make thyself wholly purged of self.

گر ز نام و حرف خواهی بگذری ** پاک کن خود را ز خود هین یک سری‌‌

Like (polished) iron, lose the ferruginous colour; become in thy ascetic discipline (like) a mirror without rust.

همچو آهن ز آهنی بی‌‌رنگ شو ** در ریاضت آینه‌‌ی بی‌‌زنگ شو

Make thyself pure from the attributes of self, that thou mayst behold thine own pure untarnished essence, 3460

خویش را صافی کن از اوصاف خود ** تا ببینی ذات پاک صاف خود

And behold within thy heart (all) the sciences of the prophets, without book and without preceptor and master.

بینی اندر دل علوم انبیا ** بی‌‌کتاب و بی‌‌معید و اوستا

The Prophet said, “Amongst my people are some who are one with me in nature and aspiration:

گفت پیغمبر که هست از امتم ** کاو بود هم گوهر و هم همتم‌‌

Their spirits behold me by the same light by which I am beholding them.”

مر مرا ز آن نور بیند جانشان ** که من ایشان را همی‌‌بینم بدان‌‌

Without the two Sahíhs and Traditions and Traditionists; nay, (they behold him) in the place where they drink the Water of Life.

بی‌‌صحیحین و احادیث و رواه ** بلکه اندر مشرب آب حیات‌‌

Know the secret of “In the evening I was a Kurd”; read the mystery of “In the morning I was an Arab.” 3465

سر امسینا لکردیا بدان ** راز اصبحنا عرابیا بخوان‌‌

And if you desire a parable of the hidden knowledge, relate the story of the Greeks and the Chinese.

ور مثالی خواهی از علم نهان ** قصه گو از رومیان و چینیان‌‌

The story of the contention between the Greeks and the Chinese in the art of painting and picturing.

قصه‌‌ی مری کردن رومیان و چینیان در علم نقاشی و صورتگری‌‌

The Chinese said, “We are the better artists”; the Greeks said, “The (superiority in) power and excellence belongs to us.”

چینیان گفتند ما نقاش‌‌تر ** رومیان گفتند ما را کر و فر

“I will put you to the test in this matter,” said the Sultan, “(and see) which of you are approved in your claim.”

گفت سلطان امتحان خواهم در این ** کز شماها کیست در دعوی گزین‌‌

When the Chinese and the Greeks presented themselves, the Greeks were more skilled in the knowledge (of the art of painting).

اهل چین و روم چون حاضر شدند ** رومیان از بحث در مکث آمدند

(Then) the Chinese said, “Hand over to us a particular room, and (let there be) one for you (as well).” 3470

چینیان گفتند یک خانه به ما ** خاص بسپارید و یک آن شما

There were two rooms with door facing door: the Chinese took one, the Greeks the other.

بود دو خانه مقابل دربدر ** ز آن یکی چینی ستد رومی دگر

The Chinese requested the King to give them a hundred colours: then that excellent (king) opened the treasury.

چینیان صد رنگ از شه خواستند ** پس خزینه باز کرد آن ارجمند

Every morning, by (his) bounty, the colours were dispensed from the treasury to the Chinese.

هر صباحی از خزینه رنگها ** چینیان را راتبه بود از عطا

The Greeks said, “No tints and pictures are proper for our work, (nothing is needed) except to remove the rust.”

رومیان گفتند نی نقش و نه رنگ ** در خور آید کار را جز دفع زنگ‌‌

They shut the door and went on burnishing: they became clear and pure like the sky. 3475

در فرو بستند و صیقل می‌‌زدند ** همچو گردون ساده و صافی شدند

There is a way from many-colouredness to colourlessness: colour is like the clouds, and colourlessness is a moon.

از دو صد رنگی به بی‌‌رنگی رهی است ** رنگ چون ابر است و بی‌‌رنگی مهی است‌‌

Whatsoever light and splendour you see in the clouds, know that it comes from the stars and the moon and the sun.

هر چه اندر ابر ضو بینی و تاب ** آن ز اختر دان و ماه و آفتاب‌‌

When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها می‌‌زدند

The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.

شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** می‌‌ربود آن عقل را و فهم را