Since she deemed the world a kingdom without permanence, she prudently made a fortress of that (Divine) Presence,
چون جهان را دید ملکی بی‌قرار ** حازمانه ساخت زان حضرت حصار
In order that in the hour of death she should have a stronghold which the Enemy would find no way to attack.3710
تا به گاه مرگ حصنی باشدش ** که نیابد خصم راه مقصدش
She saw no better fortress than the protection of God: she chose her abiding-place near to that castle.
از پناه حق حصاری به ندید ** یورتگه نزدیک آن دز برگزید
When she beheld those amorous reason-destroying glances whereby hearts were ever being pierced (as) by arrows—
چون بدید آن غمزه‌های عقل‌سوز ** که ازو می‌شد جگرها تیردوز
King and army are enthralled by Him, the sovereigns of wit (intelligence) are made witless by Him;
شاه و لشکر حلقه در گوشش شده ** خسروان هوش بیهوشش شده
Hundreds of thousands of kings are held in servitude by Him; hundreds of thousands of full-moons He hath given over to (love's) wasting fever;
صد هزاران شاه مملوکش برق ** صد هزاران بدر را داده به دق
Zuhra hath not the courage to breathe (a word); Universal Reason, when it sees Him, humbles itself.3715
زهره نی مر زهره را تا دم زند ** عقل کلش چون ببیند کم زند
What shall I say? for He has sealed my lips: His furnace has consumed the place (channel) of my breath.
من چگویم که مرا در دوخته‌ست ** دمگهم را دمگه او سوخته‌ست
“I am the smoke of that fire, I am the evidence for it”—far from that King be their false interpretation!
دود آن نارم دلیلم من برو ** دور از آن شه باطل ما عبروا
Verily, there is no evidence for a sun except the light of the lofty sun.
خود نباشد آفتابی را دلیل ** جز که نور آفتاب مستطیل
Who (what) is the shadow that it should be an evidence for Him? ’Tis enough for it that it should be abased before Him.
سایه کی بود تا دلیل او بود ** این بستش کع ذلیل او بود
This majesty (which I have attributed to Him) in (the matter of) evidence declares the truth: all perceptions are behind (Him), He is outstripping (them).3720
این جلالت در دلالت صادقست ** جمله ادراکات پس او سابقست
All perceptions are (mounted) on lame asses; He is mounted on the wind that flies like an arrow.
جمله ادراکات بر خرهای لنگ ** او سوار باد پران چون خدنگ
If He flee, none (of them) finds the dust of the King; and if they flee, He bars the way in front (of them).
گر گریزد کس نیابد گرد شه ** ور گریزند او بگیرد پیش ره
All the perceptions are unquiet: it is the time for battle, not the time for the (festal) cup.
جمله ادراکات را آرام نی ** وقت میدانست وقت جام نی
One perceptive faculty is flying like a falcon, while another, (swift) as an arrow, is tearing its place of passage;
آن یکی وهمی چو بازی می‌پرد ** وآن دگر چون تیر معبر می‌درد
And another is like a ship with sails, and another is turning back every moment.3725
وان دگر چون کشتی با بادبان ** وآن دگر اندر تراجع هر زمان
When an object of chase appears to them from afar, all those birds (the perceptions) increase (the speed of) their onset.
چون شکاری می‌نمایدشان ز دور ** جمله حمله می‌فزایند آن طیور
When it vanishes from sight, they become lost: like owls, they go to every wilderness,
چونک ناپیدا شود حیران شوند ** همچو جغدان سوی هر ویران شوند
Waiting, with one eye closed and one eye open, that the delectable prey may appear.
منتظر چشمی به هم یک چشم باز ** تا که پیدا گردد آن صید به ناز
When it tarries long, they say (from weariness), “We wonder whether it was a (real) prey or a phantom.”
چون بماند دیر گویند از ملال ** صید بود آن خود عجب یا خود خیال
The right course is that, for a short while, they should gather come strength and vigour by (taking) a rest.3730
مصلحت آنست تا یک ساعتی ** قوتی گیرند و زور از راحتی
If there were no night, on account of cupidity all people would consume themselves by the agitation (of pursuit).
گر نبودی شب همه خلقان ز آز ** خویشتن را سوختندی ز اهتزاز
From desire and greed of amassing gain, every one would give his body to be consumed.
از هوس وز حرص سود اندوختن ** هر کسی دادی بدن را سوختن
Night appears, like a treasure of mercy, that they may be delivered from their greed for a short while.
شب پدید آید چو گنج رحمتی ** تا رهند ازحرص خود یکساعتی