He saw that a new plant had grown there; then he would say, “Tell thy name and use.
نوگیاهی رسته دیدی اندرو ** پس بگفتی نام و نفع خود بگو
What medicine art thou? What art thou? What is thy name? To whom art thou hurtful and for whom is thy usefulness?”
تو چه دارویی چیی نامت چیست ** تو زیان کی و نفعت بر کیست
Then every plant would tell its effect and name, saying “I am life to that one, and death to this one.1290
پس بگفتی هر گیاهی فعل و نام ** که من آن را جانم و این را حمام
I am poison to this one, and sugar to that one: this is my name (inscribed) on the Tablet by (the pen of) the Divine decree.”
من مرین را زهرم و او را شکر ** نام من اینست بر لوح از قدر
Then (by hearing) from Solomon about those plants the physicians became learned and wise authorities (on medicine),
پس طبیبان از سلیمان زان گیا ** عالم و دانا شدندی مقتدی
So that they compiled medical books and were relieving the body from pain.
تا کتبهای طبیبی ساختند ** جسم را از رنج میپرداختند
This astronomy and medicine is (knowledge given by) Divine inspiration to the prophets: where is the way for intellect and sense (to advance) towards that which is without (spatial) direction?
این نجوم و طب وحی انبیاست ** عقل و حس را سوی بیسو ره کجاست
The particular (individual) intellect is not the intellect (capable) of production: it is only the receiver of science and is in need (of teaching).1295
عقل جزوی عقل استخراج نیست ** جز پذیرای فن و محتاج نیست
This intellect is capable of being taught and of apprehending, but (only) the man possessed of Divine inspiration gives it the teaching (which it requires).
قابل تعلیم و فهمست این خرد ** لیک صاحب وحی تعلیمش دهد
Assuredly, in their beginning, all trades (crafts and professions) were (derived) from Divine inspiration, but the intellect added (something) to them.
جمله حرفتها یقین از وحی بود ** اول او لیک عقل آن را فزود
Consider whether this intellect of ours can learn any trade without a master.
هیچ حرفت را ببین کین عقل ما ** تاند او آموختن بیاوستا
Although it (the intellect) was hair-splitting (subtle and ingenious) in contrivance, no trade was subdued (brought under command) without a master.
گرچه اندر مکر مویاشکاف بد ** هیچ پیشه رام بیاستا نشد
If knowledge of a trade were (derived) from this intellect, any trade would be acquired without a master.1300
How Qábíl (Cain) learned the trade of grave-digging from the crow (raven), before knowledge of grave-digging and graves existed in the world.
آموختن پیشه گورکنی قابیل از زاغ پیش از آنک در عالم علم گورکنی و گور بود
When was grave-digging, which was the meanest trade (of all), (acquired) from thought and cunning and meditation?
کندن گوری که کمتر پیشه بود ** کی ز فکر و حیله و اندیشه بود
If Qábíl had possessed this understanding, how should he have placed (the body of) Hábíl (Abel) on his head?—
گر بدی این فهم مر قابیل را ** کی نهادی بر سر او هابیل را
Saying, “Where shall I hide this murdered one, this man bestained with blood and earth?”
که کجا غایب کنم این کشته را ** این به خون و خاک در آغشته را
He espied a crow which had taken up a dead crow in its mouth and was approaching (ever) so quickly.
دید زاغی زاغ مرده در دهان ** بر گرفته تیز میآمد چنان
It came down from the air and began skilfully to dig a grave for it (the dead crow) for the purpose of teaching (him).1305
از هوا زیر آمد و شد او به فن ** از پی تعلیم او را گورکن
Then with its talons it raised dust from the ground and speedily put the dead crow in the grave.
پس به چنگال از زمین انگیخت گرد ** زود زاغ مرده را در گور کرد
It buried it, then it covered it with earth: the crow was endowed with knowledge through the inspiration (given) of God.
دفن کردش پس بپوشیدش به خاک ** زاغ از الهام حق بد علمناک
Qábíl cried, “Oh, fie on my intellect! for a crow is superior to me in skill.”
گفت قابیل آه شه بر عقل من ** که بود زاغی ز من افزون به فن
Concerning the Universal Intellect He (God) hath said, “The sight did not rove (má zágh),” (but) the particular intellect is looking in every direction.
عقل کل را گفت مازاغ البصر ** عقل جزوی میکند هر سو نظر
The Intellect whose sight does not rove (‘aql-i má zágh) is the light of the elect; the crow-intellect (‘aql-i zágh) is the sexton for the (spiritually) dead.1310
عقل مازاغ است نور خاصگان ** عقل زاغ استاد گور مردگان
The spirit that flies after crows—the crow carries it towards the graveyard.
جان که او دنبالهی زاغان پرد ** زاغ او را سوی گورستان برد
Beware! Do not run in pursuit of the crow-like fleshly soul, for it carries (thee) to the graveyard, not towards the orchard.
هین مدو اندر پی نفس چو زاغ ** کو به گورستان برد نه سوی باغ