Accept this (saying) without any (perverse) interpretation, that it may come into your throat (as agreeably) as honey and milk.
هیچ بیتاویل این را در پذیر ** تا در آید در گلو چون شهد و شیر
Because interpretation (alteration of the meaning) is a rejection of the gift, since he (the interpreter) regards that real (original) meaning as faulty.
ز آن که تاویل است وا داد عطا ** چون که بیند آن حقیقت را خطا
The view that it is faulty arises from the weakness of his understanding: Universal Reason is the kernel, and the particular reason is (like) the rind.
آن خطا دیدن ز ضعف عقل اوست ** عقل کل مغز است و عقل جزو پوست
Alter yourself, not the Traditions (of the Prophet): abuse your (dull) brain, not the rose garden (the true sense which you cannot apprehend).
خویش را تاویل کن نه اخبار را ** مغز را بد گوی نی گلزار را
“O ‘Alí, thou who art all mind and eye, relate a little of that which thou hast seen!3745
ای علی که جمله عقل و دیدهای ** شمه ای واگو از آن چه دیدهای
The sword of thy forbearance hath rent my soul, the water of thy knowledge hath purified my earth.
تیغ حلمت جان ما را چاک کرد ** آب علمت خاک ما را پاک کرد
Tell it forth! I know that these are His (God's) mysteries, because ’tis His work (way) to kill without sword.
باز گو دانم که این اسرار هوست ** ز آن که بیشمشیر کشتن کار اوست
He that works without tools and without limbs, He that bestows these profitable gifts,
صانع بیآلت و بیجارحه ** واهب این هدیههای رابحه
Causes the intelligence to taste myriads of wines in such wise that eyes and ears are unaware.
صد هزاران میچشاند هوش را ** که خبر نبود دو چشم و گوش را
Tell it forth, O falcon of the empyrean that findest goodly prey, that (I may know) what thou hast seen at this time from the Maker.3750
باز گو ای باز عرش خوش شکار ** تا چه دیدی این زمان از کردگار
Thine eye has learned to perceive the Unseen, (while) the eyes of bystanders are sealed.”
چشم تو ادراک غیب آموخته ** چشمهای حاضران بر دوخته
One man is beholding a moon plainly, while another sees the world dark,
آن یکی ماهی همیبیند عیان ** و آن یکی تاریک میبیند جهان
And another beholds three moons together. These three persons (beholders) are seated in one place, yea (verily).
و آن یکی سه ماه میبیند به هم ** این سه کس بنشسته یک موضع نعم
The eyes of all three are open, and the ears of all three are sharp (attentive); (they are) fastened on thee and in flight from me.
چشم هر سه باز و گوش هر سه تیز ** در تو آویزان و از من در گریز
Is this an enchantment of the eye? (Or) is it a marvellous hidden grace? On thee is the form of the wolf, and on me is the quality (beauty) of Joseph.3755
سحر عین است این عجب لطف خفی است ** بر تو نقش گرگ و بر من یوسفی است
If the worlds are eighteen thousand and more, these eighteen (thousand) are not subject (accessible) to every eye.
عالم ار هجده هزار است و فزون ** هر نظر را نیست این هجده زبون
“Reveal the mystery, O ‘Alí, thou who art approved (by God), O thou who art (like) the goodliness of a wide expanse after (the oppressive confinement of) evil fate.
راز بگشا ای علی مرتضی ** ای پس سوء القضاء حسن القضاء
Either do thou declare that which thy reason hath found, or I will tell that which hath shone forth on me.
یا تو واگو آن چه عقلت یافته ست ** یا بگویم آن چه بر من تافته ست
From thee it shone forth on me: how shouldst thou hide it? Without tongue thou art scattering light, like the moon.
از تو بر من تافت چون داری نهان ** میفشانی نور چون مه بیزبان
But if the moon's orb come to speech, it more quickly leads the night-travellers into the (right) way.3760
لیک اگر در گفت آید قرص ماه ** شب روان را زودتر آرد به راه
They become safe from error and heedlessness: the voice of the moon prevails over the voice of the ghoul.
از غلط ایمن شوند و از ذهول ** بانگ مه غالب شود بر بانگ غول
Inasmuch as the moon (even) without speech is showing the way, when it speaks it becomes light upon light.
ماه بیگفتن چو باشد رهنما ** چون بگوید شد ضیا اندر ضیا
Since thou art the gate of the city of Knowledge, since thou art the beams of the sun of Clemency,
چون تو بابی آن مدینهی علم را ** چون شعاعی آفتاب حلم را
Be open, O Gate, to him that seeks the gate, so that by means of thee the husks may reach the core.
باز باش ای باب بر جویای باب ** تا رسد از تو قشور اندر لباب
Be open unto everlasting, O Gate of Mercy, O Entrance-hall to None is like unto Him.”3765
باز باش ای باب رحمت تا ابد ** بارگاه ما له کفوا أحد