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
If thou go, go in pursuit of the ‘Anqá of the heart, towards the Qáf and Farther Mosque of the heart.
گر روی رو در پی عنقای دل ** سوی قاف و مسجد اقصای دل
Every moment from thy cogitation a new plant is growing in thy Farther Mosque.
نوگیاهی هر دم ز سودای تو ** میدمد در مسجد اقصای تو
Do thou, like Solomon, give it its due: investigate it, do not lay upon it the foot of rejection,1315
تو سلیمانوار داد او بده ** پی بر از وی پای رد بر وی منه
Because the various sorts of plants declare to thee the (inward) state of this firm-set earth.
زانک حال این زمین با ثبات ** باز گوید با تو انواع نبات
Whether in the earth there are sugar-canes or only (common) reeds, every earth (soil) is interpreted by its plants.
در زمین گر نیشکر ور خود نیست ** ترجمان هر زمین نبت ویست
Therefore the heart's soil, whereof thought was (ever) the plant—(those) thoughts have revealed the heart's secrets.
پس زمین دل که نبتش فکر بود ** فکرها اسرار دل را وا نمود
If I find in the company him that draws the discourse (from me towards himself), I, like the garden, will grow hundreds of thousands of roses;
گر سخنکش یابم اندر انجمن ** صد هزاران گل برویم چون چمن
And if at that time I find (there) the scoundrel who kills the discourse, the deep sayings will flee, like a thief, from my heart.1320
ور سخنکش یابم آن دم زن به مزد ** میگریزد نکتهها از دل چو دزد
The movement of every one is towards the Drawer: the true drawing is not like the false drawing.
جنبش هر کس به سوی جاذبست ** جذب صدق نه چو جذب کاذبست