Happy is the king whose helper in affairs is a vizier like Ásaf.1250
شاد آن شاهی که او را دستگیر ** باشد اندر کار چون آصف وزیر
When the just king is associated with him, his (the king's) name is light upon light.
شاه عادل چون قرین او شود ** نام آن نور علی نور این بود
A king like Solomon and a vizier like Ásaf are light upon light and ambergris upon ‘abír.
چون سلیمان شاه و چون آصف وزیر ** نور بر نورست و عنبر بر عبیر
(When) the king (is like) Pharaoh and his vizier like Hámán, ill-fortune is inevitable for both.
شاه فرعون و چو هامانش وزیر ** هر دو را نبود ز بدبختی گزیر
Then it is (a case of) darkness, one part over another: neither intellect nor fortune shall be their friend on the Day of Judgement.
پس بود ظلمات بعضی فوق بعض ** نه خرد یار و نه دولت روز عرض
I have not seen aught but misery in the vile: if thou hast seen (aught else), convey (to them) the salaam (of felicitation) from me.1255
من ندیدم جز شقاوت در لام ** گر تو دیدستی رسان از من سلام
The king is as the spirit, and the vizier as the intellect: the corrupt intellect brings the spirit into movement (towards corruption).
همچو جان باشد شه و صاحب چو عقل ** عقل فاسد روح را آرد بنقل
When the angelical intellect became a Hárút, it became the teacher in magic to two hundred devils.
آن فرشتهی عقل چون هاروت شد ** سحرآموز دو صد طاغوت شد
Do not take the particular (individual) intellect as thy vizier: make the Universal Intellect thy vizier, O king.
عقل جزوی را وزیر خود مگیر ** عقل کل را ساز ای سلطان وزیر
Do not make sensuality thy vizier, else thy pure spirit will cease from prayer,
مر هوا را تو وزیر خود مساز ** که برآید جان پاکت از نماز
For this sensuality is full of greed and sees (only) the immediate present, (whereas) the Intellect takes thought for the Day of Judgement.1260
کین هوا پر حرص و حالیبین بود ** عقل را اندیشه یوم دین بود
The two eyes of the Intellect are (fixed) on the end of things: it endures the pain of the thorn for the sake of that Rose
عقل را دو دیده در پایان کار ** بهر آن گل میکشد او رنج خار
Which does not fade and drop in autumn—far from it be the wind (breath) of every nose that cannot smell!
که نفرساید نریزد در خزان ** باد هر خرطوم اخشم دور از آن
How the Demon sat on the place (throne) of Solomon, on whom be peace, and imitated his actions; and concerning the manifest difference between the two Solomons, and how the Demon called himself Solomon son of David.
نشستن دیو بر مقام سلیمان علیهالسلام و تشبه کردن او به کارهای سلیمان علیهالسلام و فرق ظاهر میان هر دو سلیمان و دیو خویشتن را سلیمان بن داود نام کردن
Even if thou hast intellect, associate and consult with another intellect, O father.
ورچه عقلت هست با عقل دگر ** یار باش و مشورت کن ای پدر
With two intellects thou wilt be delivered from many afflictions: thou wilt plant thy foot on the summit of the heavens.
با دو عقل از بس بلاها وا رهی ** پای خود بر اوج گردونها نهی
If the Demon called himself Solomon and won the kingdom and made the empire subject (to him),1265
دیو گر خود را سلیمان نام کرد ** ملک برد و مملکت را رام کرد
(It was because) he had seen (and imitated) the form of Solomon's action; (but) within the form the spirit of demonry was appearing.
صورت کار سلیمان دیده بود ** صورت اندر سر دیوی مینمود
The people said, “This Solomon is without excellence: there are (great) differences between (that) Solomon and (this) Solomon.”
خلق گفتند این سلیمان بیصفاست ** از سلیمان تا سلیمان فرقهاست
He (the former) is like wakefulness, this one is like sleep; (there is as much difference) as between that Hasan and this Hasan.
او چو بیداریست این همچون وسن ** همچنانک آن حسن با این حسن
The Demon would reply, “God has bestowed on Ahriman a pleasing form (aspect) in the likeness of me.
دیو میگفتی که حق بر شکل من ** صورتی کردست خوش بر اهرمن
God hath given my aspect to the Devil: let him not cast you into his net!1270
دیو را حق صورت من داده است ** تا نیندازد شما را او بشست
If he appear with the pretence (that he is really I), beware! Do not have regard to his (outward) form.”
گر پدید آید به دعوی زینهار ** صورت او را مدارید اعتبار
The Demon was saying this to them from guile, but in good (enlightened) hearts the reverse of this was apparent.
دیوشان از مکر این میگفت لیک ** مینمود این عکس در دلهای نیک
There is no playing tricks with the discerning man, especially (with) him whose discernment and intelligence speak of the Unseen.
نیست بازی با ممیز خاصه او ** که بود تمییز و عقلش غیبگو
No magic and no imposture and fraud will bind a veil upon the owners of (spiritual) empire.
هیچ سحر و هیچ تلبیس و دغل ** مینبندد پرده بر اهل دول