- (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
- They that burnish (their hearts) have escaped from (mere) scent and colour: they behold Beauty at every moment without tarrying.
- اهل صیقل رستهاند از بوی و رنگ ** هر دمی بینند خوبی بیدرنگ
- They have relinquished the form and husk of knowledge, they have raised the banner of the eye of certainty.
- نقش و قشر علم را بگذاشتند ** رایت عین الیقین افراشتند
- Thought is gone, and they have gained light: they have gained the throat (core and essence) and the sea (ultimate source) of gnosis.
- رفت فکر و روشنایی یافتند ** نحر و بحر آشنایی یافتند