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

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

After that, he came towards the Greeks: they drew up the intervening curtain. 3480

بعد از آن آمد به سوی رومیان ** پرده را بالا کشیدند از میان‌‌

The reflexion of those (Chinese) pictures and works (of art) struck upon these walls which had been made pure (from stain).

عکس آن تصویر و آن کردارها ** زد بر این صافی شده دیوارها

All that he had seen there (in the Chinese room) seemed more beautiful here: ’twas snatching the eye from the socket.

هر چه آن جا دید اینجا به نمود ** دیده را از دیده خانه می‌‌ربود

The Greeks, O father, are the Súfís: (they are) without (independent of) study and books and erudition,

رومیان آن صوفیانند ای پدر ** بی‌‌ز تکرار و کتاب و بی‌‌هنر

But they have burnished their breasts (and made them) pure from greed and cupidity and avarice and hatreds.

لیک صیقل کرده‌‌اند آن سینه‌‌ها ** پاک از آز و حرص و بخل و کینه‌‌ها

That purity of the mirror is the attribute of the heart (which) receives the infinite form. 3485

آن صفای آینه وصف دل است ** کاو نقوش بی‌‌عدد را قابل است‌‌

That Moses (the perfect saint) holds in his bosom the formless infinite form of the Unseen (reflected) from the mirror of his heart.

صورت بی‌‌صورت بی‌‌حد غیب ** ز آینه‌‌ی دل تافت بر موسی ز جیب‌‌

Although that form is not contained in Heaven, nor in the empyrean nor the earth nor the sea nor the Fish,

گر چه آن صورت نگنجد در فلک ** نه به عرش و فرش و دریا و سمک‌‌

Because (all) those are bounded and numbered—(yet is it contained in the heart): know that the mirror of the heart hath no bound.

ز آن که محدود است و معدود است آن ** آینه‌‌ی دل را نباشد حد بدان‌‌

Here the understanding becomes silent or (else) it leads into error, because the heart is with Him (God), or indeed the heart is He.

عقل اینجا ساکت آمد یا مضل ** ز آنکه دل با اوست یا خود اوست دل‌‌

The reflexion of every image shines unto everlasting from the heart alone, both with plurality and without. 3490

عکس هر نقشی نتابد تا ابد ** جز ز دل هم با عدد هم بی‌‌عدد

Unto everlasting every new image that falls on it (the heart) is appearing therein without any veil.

تا ابد هر نقش نو کاید بر او ** می‌‌نماید بی‌‌حجابی اندر او