Rumi's Masnavi - This non-existence is the place of income: do not flee from it; this existence of more and less is the place of expenditure.

This non-existence is the place of income: do not flee from it; this existence of more and less is the place of expenditure.

جای دخل است این عدم از وی مرم ** جای خرج است این وجود بیش و کم‏

Since God's workshop is non-existence, in the world of (phenomenal) existence who is (to be found) except the idle? 690

کارگاه صنع حق چون نیستی است ** پس برون کارگه بی‏قیمتی است‏

Put into our heart subtle words which may move Thee to mercy, O Gracious One!

یاد ده ما را سخنهای دقیق ** که ترا رحم آورد آن ای رفیق‏

From Thee (come) both the prayer and the answer; from Thee safety, from Thee also dread.

هم دعا از تو اجابت هم ز تو ** ایمنی از تو مهابت هم ز تو

If we have spoken faultily, do Thou correct it: Thou art the Corrector, O Thou (who art the) Sultan of speech.

گر خطا گفتیم اصلاحش تو کن ** مصلحی تو ای تو سلطان سخن‏

Thou hast the alchemy whereby Thou mayst transmute it, and though it be a river of blood, mayst make it a Nile.

کیمیا داری که تبدیلش کنی ** گر چه جوی خون بود نیلش کنی‏

Such alchemical operations are Thy work, such elixirs are Thy secrets. 695

این چنین میناگریها کار تست ** این چنین اکسیرها اسرار تست‏

Thou didst beat water and earth together: from water and clay Thou didst mould the body of Adam.

آب را و خاک را بر هم زدی ** ز آب و گل نقش تن آدم زدی‏

Thou gavest him (Man) lineage and wife and uncles, maternal and paternal, with a thousand thoughts and joys and griefs.

نسبتش دادی و جفت و خال و عم ** با هزار اندیشه و شادی و غم‏

Again, to some Thou hast given deliverance: Thou hast parted them from this grief and joy;

باز بعضی را رهایی داده‏ای ** زین غم و شادی جدایی داده‏ای‏

Thou hast borne them away from kindred and relatives and (their own) nature, Thou hast made every fair thing foul in his (such a one's) eyes.

برده‏ای از خویش و پیوند و سرشت ** کرده‏ای در چشم او هر خوب زشت‏

He spurns all that is perceived by the senses, and leans for support on that which is invisible. 700

هر چه محسوس است او رد می‏کند ** و انچه ناپیداست مسند می‏کند

His love is manifest and his Beloved is hidden: the Friend is outside (of the world), (but) His fascination is in the world.

عشق او پیدا و معشوقش نهان ** یار بیرون فتنه‏ی او در جهان‏

Give up this (belief). Loves (felt) for what is endued with form have not as their object the (outward) form or the lady's face.

این رها کن عشقهای صورتی ** نیست بر صورت نه بر روی ستی‏

That which is the object of love is not the form, whether it be love for (the things of) this world or yonder world.

آن چه معشوق است صورت نیست آن ** خواه عشق این جهان خواه آن جهان‏

That which you have come to love for its form—why have you abandoned it after the spirit has fled?

آن چه بر صورت تو عاشق گشته‏ای ** چون برون شد جان چرایش هشته‏ای‏

Its form is still there: whence (then) this satiety (disgust)? O lover, inquire who your beloved (really) is. 705

صورتش بر جاست این سیری ز چیست ** عاشقا واجو که معشوق تو کیست‏

If the beloved is that which the senses perceive, every one that has senses would be in love (with it).

آن چه محسوس است اگر معشوقه است ** عاشق استی هر که او را حس هست‏

Inasmuch as constancy is increased by that (spiritual) love, how is constancy altered (impaired) by the (decay of the material) form?

چون وفا آن عشق افزون می‏کند ** کی وفا صورت دگرگون می‏کند

The sunbeam shone upon the wall: the wall received a borrowed splendour.

پرتو خورشید بر دیوار تافت ** تابش عاریتی دیوار یافت‏

Why set your heart on a piece of turf, O simple man? Seek out the source which shines perpetually.

بر کلوخی دل چه بندی ای سلیم ** واطلب اصلی که تابد او مقیم‏

You who are in love with your intellect, deeming yourself superior to worshippers of form, 710

ای که تو هم عاشقی بر عقل خویش ** خویش بر صورت پرستان دیده بیش‏

That (intellect) is a beam of (Universal) Intellect (cast) on your sense-perception; regard it as borrowed gold on your copper.

پرتو عقل است آن بر حس تو ** عاریت میدان ذهب بر مس تو

Beauty in humankind is like gilding; else, how did your sweetheart become (as ugly as) an old ass?

چون زر اندود است خوبی در بشر ** ور نه چون شد شاهد تو پیر خر

She was like an angel, she became like a demon, for that loveliness in her was a borrowed (transient) thing.

چون فرشته بود همچون دیو شد ** کان ملاحت اندر او عاریه بد