When He says ‘Enough!’ my vein rests. I am (apparently) at rest, but actually I am in rapid motion”—
چون بگوید بس شود ساکن رگم ** ساکنم وز روی فعل اندر تگم
At rest, like the (medicinal) ointment, and very active (efficacious); at rest, like the intellect, while the speech (impelled) by it is moving.
همچو مرهم ساکن و بس کارکن ** چون خرد ساکن وزو جنبان سخن
In the opinion of him whose intelligence does not perceive this, earthquakes are caused by terrestrial vapours.3720
نزد آنکس که نداند عقلش این ** زلزله هست از بخارات زمین
An ant, walking on a piece of paper, saw the pen writing and began to praise the pen. Another ant, which was more keen-sighted, said, "Praise the fingers, for I deem this accomplishment to proceed from them." Another ant, more clear-sighted than either, said, "I praise the arm, for the fingers are a branch of the arm," et cetera.
موری بر کاغذ میرفت نبشتن قلم دید قلم را ستودن گرفت موری دیگر کی چشم تیزتر بود گفت ستایش انگشتان را کن کی آن هنر ازیشان میبینم موری دگر کی از هر دو چشم روشنتر بود گفت من بازو را ستایم کی انگشتان فرع بازواند الی آخره
A little ant saw a pen (writing) on a paper, and told this mystery to another ant,
مورکی بر کاغذی دید او قلم ** گفت با مور دگر این راز هم
Saying, “That pen made wonderful pictures like sweet basil and beds of lilies and roses.”
که عجایب نقشها آن کلک کرد ** همچو ریحان و چو سوسنزار و ورد
The other ant said, “That artist is the finger, and this pen is actually (no more than) the derivative (instrument) and the sign.”
گفت آن مور اصبعست آن پیشهور ** وین قلم در فعل فرعست و اثر
A third ant said, “It is the work of the arm, by whose strength the slender finger depicted it.”
گفت آن مور سوم کز بازوست ** که اصبع لاغر ز زورش نقش بست
In this fashion it (the argument) was carried upward till a chief of the ants, (who) was a little bit sagacious,3725
همچنین میرفت بالا تا یکی ** مهتر موران فطن بود اندکی
Said, “Do not regard this accomplishment as proceeding from the (material) form, which becomes unconscious in sleep and death.
گفت کز صورت مبینید این هنر ** که به خواب و مرگ گردد بیخبر
Form is like a garment or a staff: (bodily) figures do not move except by means of intellect and spirit.”
صورت آمد چون لباس و چون عصا ** جز به عقل و جان نجنبد نقشها
He (the wise ant) was unaware that without the controlling influence of God that intellect and heart (mind) would be inert.
بیخبر بود او که آن عقل و فاد ** بی ز تقلیب خدا باشد جماد
If He withdraw His favour from it for a single moment, the acute intellect will commit (many) follies.
یک زمان از وی عنایت بر کند ** عقل زیرک ابلهیها میکند
When Dhu ’l-Qarnayn found it (Mount Qáf) speaking, he said, after Mount Qáf had bored the pearls of speech,3730
چونش گویا یافت ذوالقرنین گفت ** چونک کوه قاف در نطق سفت
“O eloquent one, who art wise and knowest the mystery, expound to me the Attributes of God.”
کای سخنگوی خبیر رازدان ** از صفات حق بکن با من بیان
It answered, “Go, for those qualities are too terrible for (oral) exposition to put its hand on them,
گفت رو کان وصف از آن هایلترست ** که بیان بر وی تواند برد دست
Or for the pen to dare inscribe with its point information concerning them on the pages (of books).”
یا قلم را زهره باشد که به سر ** بر نویسد بر صحایف زان خبر
He said, “Relate a lesser tale concerning the wonders of God, O goodly divine.”
گفت کمتر داستانی باز گو ** از عجبهای حق ای حبر نکو
It said, “Look, the King (God) hath made a plain full of snow-mountains, for the distance of a three hundred years' journey—3735
گفت اینک دشت سیصدساله راه ** کوههای برف پر کردست شاه
Mountain on mountain, beyond count and number: the snow comes continually to replenish them.
کوه بر که بیشمار و بیعدد ** میرسد در هر زمان برفش مدد
One snow-mountain is being piled on another: the snow brings coldness to the earth.
کوه برفی میزند بر دیگری ** میرساند برف سردی تا ثری
At every moment snow-mountain is being piled on snow-mountain from the illimitable and vast storehouse.
کوه برفی میزند بر کوه برف ** دم به دم ز انبار بیحد و شگرف
O king, if there were not a valley (of snow) like this, the glowing heat of Hell would annihilate me.”
گر نبودی این چنین وادی شها ** تف دوزخ محو کردی مر مرا
Know that (in this world) the heedless are (like) snow-mountains, to the end that the veils of the intelligent may not be consumed.3740
غافلان را کوههای برف دان ** تا نسوزد پردههای عاقلان
Were it not for the reflexion (effect) of snow-weaving (chilling) ignorance, that Mount Qáf would be consumed by the fire of longing.
گر نبودی عکس جهل برفباف ** سوختی از نار شوق آن کوه قاف
The Fire (of Hell) in sooth is (only) an atom of God's wrath; it is (only) a whip to threaten the base.
آتش از قهر خدا خود ذرهایست ** بهر تهدید لیمان درهایست