Until the scent from the Unseen shall come to your nose, say, will you see anything except your nose?
تا به بینی نایدت از غیب بو ** غیر بینی هیچ می‌‌بینی بگو
How that infidel asked 'Ali, may God honour his person, saying, "Since thou wert victorious over such a man,as I am, how didst thou drop the sword from thy hand?" // Then that devoted friend, who had been newly converted to Islam, in his enthusiasm and delight said to 'Ali,
سوال کردن آن کافر از امیر المومنین علی علیه السلام که بر چون منی مظفر شدی شمشیر را از دست چون انداختی // پس بگفت آن نومسلمان ولی ** از سر مستی و لذت با علی
He said, "Speak, O Prince of the Faithful, that my soul may stir within my body, like the embryo."
که بفرما یا امیر المومنین.** تا بجنبد جان به تن در چون جنین
O (dear) soul, the seven planets, (each) in turn, do a (particular) service for a time to every embryo.
هفت اختر هر جنین را مدتی ** می‌‌کنند ای جان به نوبت خدمتی
When the time comes for the embryo to receive the (vital) spirit, at that time the sun becomes its helper.3775
چون که وقت آید که جان گیرد جنین ** آفتابش آن زمان گردد معین
This embryo is brought into movement by the sun, for the sun is quickly endowing it with spirit.
این جنین در جنبش آید ز آفتاب ** کافتابش جان همی‌‌بخشد شتاب
From the other stars this embryo received only an impression, until the sun shone upon it.
از دگر انجم بجز نقشی نیافت ** این جنین تا آفتابش بر نتافت
By which way did it become connected in the womb with the beauteous sun?
از کدامین ره تعلق یافت او ** در رحم با آفتاب خوب رو
By the hidden way that is remote from our sense-perception. The sun in heaven hath many ways:
از ره پنهان که دور از حس ماست ** آفتاب چرخ را بس راههاست
The way whereby gold receives nourishment, and the way whereby the (common) stone is made a jacinth,3780
آن رهی که زر بیابد قوت از او ** و آن رهی که سنگ شد یاقوت از او
And the way whereby it makes the ruby red, and the way whereby it gives the lightning-flash to the (iron) horse-shoe,
آن رهی که سرخ سازد لعل را ** و آن رهی که برق بخشد نعل را
And the way whereby it ripens the fruit, and the way whereby it gives heart to one distraught (with fear).
آن رهی که پخته سازد میوه را ** و آن رهی که دل دهد کالیوه را
“Say it forth, O falcon with shining wings who hast learned (to be familiar) with the King and with his fore-arm.
باز گو ای باز پر افروخته ** با شه و با ساعدش آموخته