This, which is busy (in appearance), is (really) idle and (superficial, like) a husk; and that which is hidden is its core and origin.
اینکه بر کار است بیکار است و پوست ** و انکه پنهان است مغز و اصل اوست
The dust is as a tool in the hand of the wind: deem the wind high and of high descent.
خاک همچون آلتی در دست باد ** باد را دان عالی و عالی نژاد
The gaze of the eye of dust falls on the dust; an eye that sees the wind is of another sort.
چشم خاکی را به خاک افتد نظر ** باد بین چشمی بود نوعی دگر
A horse knows a horse, because it (one horse) is associated (homogeneous with other horses); likewise (only) a rider knows the things appertaining to a rider.1285
اسب داند اسب را کاو هست یار ** هم سواری داند احوال سوار
The sensuous eye is the horse, and the Light of God is the rider: without the rider the horse itself is useless.
چشم حس اسب است و نور حق سوار ** بیسواره اسب خود ناید به کار
Therefore train the horse (so as to cure it) of bad habits; else the horse will be rejected before the King.
پس ادب کن اسب را از خوی بد ** ور نه پیش شاه باشد اسب رد
The horse's eye finds the way from the King's eye: without the King's eye its eye is in desperate plight.
چشم اسب از چشم شه رهبر بود ** چشم او بیچشم شه مضطر بود
The eye of horses, whithersoever you call it except to grass and pasture, says, “Nay, why (should we go)?”
چشم اسبان جز گیاه و جز چرا ** هر کجا خوانی بگوید نه چرا
The Light of God mounts (as a rider) on the sensuous eye, and then the soul yearns after God.1290
نور حق بر نور حس راکب شود ** آن گهی جان سوی حق راغب شود
How should the riderless horse know the marks of the road? The King is needed (to ride it) in order that it may know the King's road.
اسب بیراکب چه داند رسم راه ** شاه باید تا بداند شاه راه
Go towards a sense on which the Light is riding: that Light is a good companion for the sense.
سوی حسی رو که نورش راکب است ** حس را آن نور نیکو صاحب است
The Light of God is an ornament to the light of sense: this is the meaning of light upon light.
نور حس را نور حق تزیین بود ** معنی نور علی نور این بود
The light of sense draws (a man) towards earth; the Light of God bears him aloft,
نور حسی میکشد سوی ثری ** نور حقش میبرد سوی علی
Because sensible things are a lower world: the Light of God is (as) the sea, and the sense as a dew-drop.1295
ز انکه محسوسات دونتر عالمی است ** نور حق دریا و حس چون شبنمی است
But that which rides on it (on the sense) is not manifested save by good effects and words.
لیک پیدا نیست آن راکب بر او ** جز به آثار و به گفتار نکو
The sensuous light, which is gross and heavy, is hidden in the black of the eyes.
نور حسی کاو غلیظ است و گران ** هست پنهان در سواد دیدهگان
Inasmuch as you are not seeing the light of sense with (your) eye, how should you see the light of that religious one (the saint) with (your) eye?
چون که نور حس نمیبینی ز چشم ** چون ببینی نور آن دینی ز چشم
The light of sense is hidden notwithstanding this grossness: how (then) should not that radiance be hidden which is pure (and subtle)?
نور حس با این غلیظی مختفی است ** چون خفی نبود ضیایی کان صفی است
This world, like straws in the hand (control) of the wind (which is) the (world) unseen, is a helpless object before the power and sway of the Unseen1300
این جهان چون خس به دست باد غیب ** عاجزی پیش گرفت و داد غیب
It (this control) makes it now lofty, now low; makes it now sound (and whole), now broken;
See (how) the Hand (is) hidden, while the pen is writing; the horse careering, while the Rider is invisible.
دست پنهان و قلم بین خط گزار ** اسب در جولان و ناپیدا سوار
See the arrow flying, and the Bow not in sight; the (individual) souls manifest, and the Soul of souls hidden.
تیر پران بین و ناپیدا کمان ** جانها پیدا و پنهان جان جان
Do not break the arrow, for it is the arrow of a King; it is not shot at long range (at random), it is from the thumb-stall of One who knows (how to hit the target).1305
تیر را مشکن که این تیر شهی است ** تیر پرتابی ز شصت آگهی است
God said, “Thou didst not throw when thou threwest”: the action of God has precedence over (our) actions.
ما رمیت إذ رمیت گفت حق ** کار حق بر کارها دارد سبق