The hidden Form and the Light of that Brow have made the eyes of the prophets far-seeing.
صورت پنهان و آن نور جبین ** کرده چشم انبیا را دوربین
The Light of that Countenance will deliver (thee) from the fire: hark, be not content with borrowed light.
نور آن رخسار برهاند ز نار ** هین مشو قانع به نور مستعار
This (borrowed) light makes the eye to see that which is transient: it makes body and mind and spirit to be scabby (diseased).
چشم را این نور حالی‌بین کند ** جسم و عقل و روح را گرگین کند
It has the appearance of light, but in reality it is fire: keep thy hands off it, if thou desire the (true) radiance.3225
صورتش نورست و در تحقیق نار ** گر ضیا خواهی دو دست از وی بدار
The eye and spirit that sees (only) the transient falls on its face continually wherever it goes.
دم به دم در رو فتد هر جا رود ** دیده و جانی که حالی‌بین بود
A far-seeing man who lacks knowledge may see far, just as (one has) far sight in dreams.
دور بیند دوربین بی‌هنر ** هم‌چنانک دور دیدن خواب در
You are asleep with parched lips on the bank of the river, and (in your dream) are running in search of water towards the mirage.
خفته باشی بر لب جو خشک‌لب ** می‌دوی سوی سراب اندر طلب
You see the mirage far away and run (towards it): you become in love with your own sight.
دور می‌بینی سراب و می‌دوی ** عاشق آن بینش خود می‌شوی
In the dream you boast to your friends, saying, “I am the one whose heart possesses vision, and (I am) the one that rends the veil.3230
می‌زنی در خواب با یاران تو لاف ** که منم بینادل و پرده‌شکاف
Lo, I see water yonder: hark, make haste that we may go there”—and ’tis (only) the mirage.
نک بدان سو آب دیدم هین شتاب ** تا رویم آنجا و آن باشد سراب
At every step you hurry farther away from the water, whilst you keep running on towards the perilous mirage.
هر قدم زین آب تازی دورتر ** دو دوان سوی سراب با غرر
Your very setting-out has become the barrier (which prevents you) from (seeing) this that has come close to you.
عین آن عزمت حجاب این شده ** که به تو پیوسته است و آمده
Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.3235
دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار
Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
(Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.3240
موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز
The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Even as (for example) that ascetic was laughing in a year of drought, while all (his) folk were weeping.
هم‌چنان کن زاهد اندر سال قحط ** بود او خندان و گریان جمله رهط
So they said to him, “What is the occasion for laughter, (when) the drought has uprooted (destroyed) the true believers?
پس بگفتندش چه جای خنده است ** قحط بیخ مومنان بر کنده است