The medicine of patience will burn the veils over your eye and will also effect the opening of your breast (to Divine knowledge).
پردههای دیده را داروی صبر ** هم بسوزد هم بسازد شرح صدر
When the mirror of your heart becomes clear and pure, you will behold images (which are) outside of (the world of) water and earth.
آینهی دل چون شود صافی و پاک ** نقشها بینی برون از آب و خاک
You will behold both the image and the image-Maker, both the carpet of (spiritual) empire and the carpet-Spreader.
هم ببینی نقش و هم نقاش را ** فرش دولت را و هم فراش را
The phantom (seen in mystical vision) of my Friend seemed (to me) like Khalíl (Abraham)—its form an idol, its reality a breaker of idols.
چون خلیل آمد خیال یار من ** صورتش بت معنی او بت شکن
Thanks be to God that when he appeared, my spirit beheld in his phantom its own phantom (reflected image).75
شکر یزدان را که چون شد او پدید ** در خیالش جان خیال خود بدید
The dust of thy threshold was bewitching my heart: dust (woe) on him that was patient without thy dust!
خاک درگاهت دلم را میفریفت ** خاک بر وی کاو ز خاکت میشکیفت
I said, “If I am beautiful, I shall receive this (dust of Divine grace and love) from him; and if not, he has indeed laughed at ugly me.
گفتم ار خوبم پذیرم این از او ** ور نه خود خندید بر من زشت رو
The (best) plan is this, that I look at myself (to see whether I am worthy of him); otherwise (if I am not worthy), he will laugh at me: how shall I buy (gain his love)?”
چاره آن باشد که خود را بنگرم ** ور نه او خندد مرا من کی خرم
He is beautiful and a lover of beauty: how should a fresh young man choose a decrepit old woman?
او جمیل است و محب للجمال ** کی جوان نو گزیند پیر زال
The Beautiful attracts the beautiful (to itself): know this (for sure). Recite thereon (the text) the good women for the good men.80
خوب خوبی را کند جذب این بدان ** طیبات و طیبین بر وی بخوان
In this world everything attracts something: the hot draws the hot (to itself) and the cold the cold.
در جهان هر چیز چیزی جذب کرد ** گرم گرمی را کشید و سرد سرد
The worthless sort attract the worthless; the lasting (those of lasting worth) are rejoiced by the lasting.
قسم باطل باطلان را میکشند ** باقیان از باقیان هم سر خوشند
Those of the Fire attract those of the Fire, those of the Light seek those of the Light.
ناریان مر ناریان را جاذباند ** نوریان مر نوریان را طالباند
When you shut your eye, you have a feeling of anguish: the eye cannot do without the light of the window.
چشم چون بستی ترا تاسه گرفت ** نور چشم از نور روزن کی شکفت
Your discomfort was (caused by) the light in your eye straining to be joined speedily with the daylight.85
تاسهی تو جذب نور چشم بود ** تا بپیوندد به نور روز زود
If you feel distress (within) while your eyes are unclosed, know that you have shut the eye of your heart, (and) open it.
چشم باز ار تاسه گیرد مر ترا ** دان که چشم دل ببستی بر گشا
Recognise that that (distress) is the craving of the eyes of your heart which is seeking the immeasurable Light.
آن تقاضای دو چشم دل شناس ** کاو همیجوید ضیای بیقیاس
Inasmuch as separation from those two impermanent lights brought you discomfort, (so that) you opened your eyes,
چون فراق آن دو نور بیثبات ** تاسه آوردت گشادی چشمهات
Separation, then, from those two steadfast (everlasting) lights will bring you discomfort: guard them (well)!
پس فراق آن دو نور پایدار ** تاسه میآرد مر آن را پاس دار
Since He is calling me, I will look to see whether I am worthy to be drawn (to Him) or whether I am ill-favoured.90
او چو میخواند مرا من بنگرم ** لایق جذبام و یا بد پیکرم
If a charming person makes an ugly one (follow) at his heels, ’tis (but) a mockery that he makes of him.
گر لطیفی زشت را در پی کند ** تسخری باشد که او بر وی کند
How, I wonder, shall I behold my own face, so as to see what complexion I have and whether I am like day or like night?
کی ببینم روی خود را ای عجب ** تا چه رنگم همچو روزم یا چو شب
For a long while I was seeking the image of my soul, (but) my image was not displayed (reflected) by any one.
نقش جان خویش میجستم بسی ** هیچ میننمود نقشم از کسی
“After all,” I said, “what is a mirror for? (The use of it is this), that every one may know what and who he is.”
گفتم آخر آینه از بهر چیست ** تا بداند هر کسی کاو چیست و کیست
The mirror of iron is (only) for husks (external forms); the mirror that shows the aspect of the heart is of great price.95
آینهی آهن برای پوستهاست ** آینهی سیمای جان سنگین بهاست