The goldsmith's tool in the hand of a shoemaker is like a seed sown in sand;
آلت زرگر به دست کفشگر ** همچو دانهی کشت کرده ریگ در
And the cobbler's tool (put) before the husbandman is (as) straw before a dog (or) bones before an ass.
و آلت اسکاف پیش برزگر ** پیش سگ کاه استخوان در پیش خر
“I am God” on the lips of Mansúr was the light (of truth); “I am Allah” on the lips of Pharaoh was a lie.305
بود انا الحق در لب منصور نور ** بود انا الله در لب فرعون زور
In the hand of Moses the rod became a witness (to the truth); in the hand of the magician the rod became (worthless as) motes in the air.
شد عصا اندر کف موسی گوا ** شد عصا اندر کف ساحر هبا
On this account Jesus did not teach his fellow-traveller that Name of the Lord,
زین سبب عیسی بدان همراه خود ** در نیاموزید آن اسم صمد
For he would not know (its proper use) and would attribute imperfection to the tool (which he misused). Strike stone on clay, and how should fire leap forth?
کاو نداند نقص بر آلت نهد ** سنگ بر گل زن تو آتش کی جهد
Hand and tool are as stone and iron; there must be a pair: (the existence of) a pair is the condition (necessary) for bringing to birth.
دست و آلت همچو سنگ و آهن است ** جفت باید جفت شرط زادن است
The One is He who hath no consort and no tool; in number there is doubt, and that One is beyond doubt.310
آن که بیجفت است و بیآلت یکی است ** در عدد شک است و آن یک بیشکی است
Those who say “two” or “three” or more than these (numbers) are certainly agreed in (affirming the existence of) One.
آن که دو گفت و سه گفت و بیش ازین ** متفق باشند در واحد یقین
When squinting has been put aside (so that they see correctly), they become alike: the assertors of two or three become assertors of Unity.
احولی چون دفع شد یکسان شوند ** دو سه گویان هم یکی گویان شوند
If you are a ball in His polo-field, keep spinning round from (the blows of) His polo-stick.
گر یکی گویی تو در میدان او ** گرد بر میگرد از چوگان او
The ball becomes right and flawless (only) at the time when it is made to dance by the stroke of the King's hand.
گوی آن گه راست و بینقصان شود ** که ز زخم دست شه رقصان شود
Give ear heedfully to these (sayings), O squinting one: apply the eye-salve by way of the ear.315
گوش دار ای احول اینها را به هوش ** داروی دیده بکش از راه گوش
Holy words, then, do not abide in blind hearts, (but) go to the Light whence they came,
پس کلام پاک در دلهای کور ** مینپاید میرود تا اصل نور
While the (guileful) spell of the Devil goes into crooked (perverse) hearts as a crooked shoe on to a crooked foot.
و آن فسون دیو در دلهای کژ ** میرود چون کفش کژ در پای کژ
Though you may learn Wisdom by rote, it becomes quit of you when you are unworthy (to receive it);
گر چه حکمت را به تکرار آوری ** چون تو نااهلی شود از تو بری
And though you write it and note it (down), and though you brag (about it) and expound it,
ور چه بنویسی نشانش میکنی ** ور چه میلافی بیانش میکنی
It withdraws its face from you, O disputatious one: it snaps its bonds and (takes) flight from you.320
او ز تو رو در کشد ای پر ستیز ** بندها را بگسلد وز تو گریز
(But) if you read not and it sees your ardour (of love), Knowledge will be a bird docile (and obedient) to your hand.
ور نخوانی و ببیند سوز تو ** علم باشد مرغ دستآموز تو
It does not abide with every unskilled tiro: (it is) like a peacock (which does not stay) in the house of a peasant.
او نپاید پیش هر نااوستا ** همچو طاوسی به خانهی روستا
How the King found his falcon in the house of a decrepit old woman.
یافتن پادشاه باز را به خانهی کمپیر زن
Religion is not (like) the falcon that fled from the King to the old crone who was sifting flour
دین نه آن باز است کاو از شه گریخت ** سوی آن کمپیر کاو میآرد بیخت
That she might cook tutmáj for her children. (When) she saw the beautiful well-born falcon,
تا که تتماجی پزد اولاد را ** دید آن باز خوش خوش زاد را
She tied its little foot and clipped its wings; she cut its talons and fed it with straw.325
پایکش بست و پرش کوتاه کرد ** ناخنش ببرید و قوتش کاه کرد
“Unworthy folk,” said she, “have not kept thee in (good) trim: thy wings are overgrown and thy talons have become long.
گفت نااهلان نکردندت به ساز ** پر فزود از حد و ناخن شد دراز
Every unworthy one's hand makes thee ill: come to thy mother that she may take care of thee.”
دست هر نااهل بیمارت کند ** سوی مادر آ که تیمارت کند