With thee, earth is better to us than heaven, O thou by whom (the world from) Arcturus to the Fish is illumined!
با تو ما را خاک بهتر از فلک ** ای سماک از تو منور تا سمک
Without thee, darkness is over heaven for us, (but) compared with thee, O Moon, who is this heaven at all?
بیتو ما را بر فلک تاریکی است ** با تو ای ماه این فلک باری کی است
The heavens have the form of sublimity, (but) the essence of sublimity belongs to the pure spirit.
صورت رفعت بود افلاک را ** معنی رفعت روان پاک را
The form of sublimity is for bodies; beside the essence (reality) bodies are (mere) names.”590
صورت رفعت برای جسمهاست ** جسمها در پیش معنی اسمهاست
The refusal of the vizier to interrupt his seclusion.
جواب گفتن وزیر که خلوت را نمیشکنم
He said: “Cut short your arguments, let my advice make its way into your souls and hearts.
گفت حجتهای خود کوته کنید ** پند را در جان و در دل ره کنید
If I am trustworthy, the trustworthy is not doubted, even though I should call heaven earth.
گر امینم متهم نبود امین ** گر بگویم آسمان را من زمین
If I am (endowed with) perfection, why (this) disbelief in my perfection? and if I am not (perfect), why this molestation and annoyance?
گر کمالم با کمال انکار چیست ** ور نیم این زحمت و آزار چیست
I will not go forth from this seclusion, because I am occupied with inward experiences.”
من نخواهم شد از این خلوت برون ** ز آن که مشغولم به احوال درون
How the disciples raised objections against the vizier's secluding himself.
اعتراض مریدان در خلوت وزیر
They all said: “O vizier, it is not disbelief: our words are not as the words of strangers.595
جمله گفتند ای وزیر انکار نیست ** گفت ما چون گفتن اغیار نیست
The tears of our eyes are running because of our separation from thee; sigh after sigh is going (up) from the midst of our souls.
اشک دیدهست از فراق تو دوان ** آه آه است از میان جان روان
A babe does not contend with its nurse, but it weeps, although it knows neither evil nor good.
طفل با دایه نه استیزد و لیک ** گرید او گر چه نه بد داند نه نیک
We are as the harp and thou art striking (it with) the plectrum (playing on it): the lamentation is not from us, it is thou that art making lamentation.
ما چون چنگیم و تو زخمه میزنی ** زاری از ما نی تو زاری میکنی
We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the mountain, and the echo in us is from thee.
ما چو ناییم و نوا در ما ز تست ** ما چو کوهیم و صدا در ما ز تست
We are as pieces of chess (engaged) in victory and defeat: our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely!600
ما چو شطرنجیم اندر برد و مات ** برد و مات ما ز تست ای خوش صفات
Who are we, O thou soul of our souls, that we should remain in being beside thee?
ما که باشیم ای تو ما را جان جان ** تا که ما باشیم با تو در میان
We and our existences are (really) non-existences: thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable (causes phenomena to appear).
ما عدمهاییم و هستیهای ما ** تو وجود مطلقی فانی نما
We all are lions, but lions on a banner: because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment.
ما همه شیران ولی شیر علم ** حملهشان از باد باشد دمبهدم
Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: may that which is unseen never fail!
حمله شان پیدا و ناپیداست باد ** آن که ناپیداست هرگز کم مباد
Our wind (that whereby we are moved) and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing (us) into being.605
باد ما و بود ما از داد تست ** هستی ما جمله از ایجاد تست
Thou didst show the delightfulness of Being unto not-being, (after) thou hadst caused not-being to fall in love with thee.
لذت هستی نمودی نیست را ** عاشق خود کرده بودی نیست را
Take not away the delightfulness of thy bounty; take not away thy dessert and wine and wine-cup!
لذت انعام خود را وامگیر ** نقل و باده و جام خود را وامگیر
And if thou take it away, who will make inquiry of thee? How should the picture strive with the painter?
ور بگیری کیت جستجو کند ** نقش با نقاش چون نیرو کند
Do not look on us, do not fix thy gaze on us: look on thine own kindness and generosity.
منگر اندر ما، مکن در ما نظر ** اندر اکرام و سخای خود نگر
We were not, and there was no demand on our part, (yet) thy grace was hearkening to our unspoken prayer (and calling us into existence).”610
ما نبودیم و تقاضامان نبود ** لطف تو ناگفتهی ما میشنود
Before the painter and the brush the picture is helpless and bound like a child in the womb.
نقش باشد پیش نقاش و قلم ** عاجز و بسته چو کودک در شکم