Oh, there is many a black beard and the man (its owner) old (in wisdom); oh, there is many a white beard with a heart (black) as pitch.
ای بسا ریش سیاه و مردت پیر ** ای بسا ریش سپید و دل چو قیر
Often have I tested his understanding: that youth has shown (the ripe experience of) age in (handling) affairs.
عقل او را آزمودم بارها ** کرد پیری آن جوان در کارها
O son, the (really) old is the old in understanding: ‘tis not whiteness of the hair in the beard and on the head.
پیر پیر عقل باشد ای پسر ** نه سپیدی موی اندر ریش و سر
How should he (any old man) be older than Iblís? When he lacks understanding, he is good-for-naught.
از بلیس او پیرتر خود کی بود ** چونک عقلش نیست او لاشی بود
Suppose he is a child: (what matter) when he hath the (life-giving) breath of Jesus (and) is purged of vainglory and vain desire?2165
طفل گیرش چون بود عیسی نفس ** پاک باشد از غرور و از هوس
That whiteness of hair is a proof of maturity to the bandaged eye that hath little penetration.
آن سپیدی مو دلیل پختگیست ** پیش چشم بسته کش کوته‌تگیست
Since the blind imitator recognises nothing but (an external) proof, he continually seeks the way (to the truth) in the (out ward) sign.
آن مقلد چون نداند جز دلیل ** در علامت جوید او دایم سبیل
For his sake we have said, ‘When you wish to plan (anything), choose an elder (to advise you).’
بهر او گفتیم که تدبیر را ** چونک خواهی کرد بگزین پیر را
He who has escaped from the purdah of blind imitation sees by the light of God that which (really) is.
آنک او از پرده‌ی تقلید جست ** او به نور حق ببیند آنچ هست
Without proof and without exposition the pure Light cleaves its (the object’s) skin and enters into the middle (the core).2170
نور پاکش بی‌دلیل و بی‌بیان ** پوست بشکافد در آید در میان
To one who regards (only) the appearance, what is (the difference between) the adulterated and genuine coin? How should he know what is in the date-basket?
پیش ظاهربین چه قلب و چه سره ** او چه داند چیست اندر قوصره
Oh, there is much gold made black with smoke, that it may be saved from (falling into) the hands of every envious thief.
ای بسا زر سیه کرده بدود ** تا رهد از دست هر دزدی حسود
Oh, there is much copper gilded with gold, that he (the counterfeiter) may sell it to (those of) small understanding.
ای بسا مس زر اندوده به زر ** تا فروشد آن به عقل مختصر
We, who see the inward (reality) of the whole world, see the heart and look not on the outward form.”
ما که باطن‌بین جمله‌ی کشوریم ** دل ببینیم و به ظاهر ننگریم
The cadis who are concerned with the outward form (the letter of the law) give judgement according to outward appearances.2175
قاضیانی که به ظاهر می‌تنند ** حکم بر اشکال ظاهر می‌کنند
When he (the suspected person) has uttered the profession of the Faith and has shown some (formal sign of) true belief, at once these people (the cadis) pronounce him a true believer.
چون شهادت گفت و ایمانی نمود ** حکم او مومن کنند این قوم زود
There is many a hypocrite who has taken refuge in this out ward form and has shed the blood of a hundred true believers in secret.
بس منافق کاندرین ظاهر گریخت ** خون صد مومن به پنهانی بریخت
Endeavour to become old in intelligence and religion, that you may become, like the Universal Intelligence, a seer of the in ward (reality).
جهد کن تا پیر عقل و دین شوی ** تا چو عقل کل تو باطن‌بین شوی
When the beauteous Intelligence unveiled its face (revealed itself) from non-existence, He (God) gave it a robe of honour and a thousand names.
از عدم چون عقل زیبا رو گشاد ** خلعتش داد و هزارش نام داد
Of those sweet-breathing names the least is this, that it (the Intelligence) is not in need of any one.2180
کمترین زان نامهای خوش‌نفس ** این که نبود هیچ او محتاج کس
If the Intelligence display its face in visible form, day will be dark beside its light;
گر به صورت وا نماید عقل رو ** تیره باشد روز پیش نور او
And if the shape of foolishness become visible, beside it the darkness of night will be radiant,
ور مثال احمقی پیدا شود ** ظلمت شب پیش او روشن بود
For it is darker and more murky than night; but the miserable bat is a buyer (seeker) of darkness.
کو ز شب مظلم‌تر و تاری‌ترست ** لیک خفاش شقی ظلمت‌خرست
Little by little accustom yourself to the daylight, else you will remain a bat deprived of splendour.
اندک اندک خوی کن با نور روز ** ورنه خفاشی بمانی بیفروز
He (the bat-like person) is the lover of every place where there is difficulty and perplexing doubt, and the enemy of every place where there is the lamp of (spiritual) felicity2185
عاشق هر جا شکال و مشکلیست ** دشمن هر جا چراغ مقبلیست