The man possessed of an ear (sense of hearing) laughs once, when a friend repeats a joke to a friend; the deaf man (laughs) twice:
گوشور یک‌بار خندد کر دو بار ** چونک لاغ املی کند یاری بیار
The first time by way of conformity and affectation, because he sees the company laughing.
بار اول از ره تقلید و سوم ** که همی‌بیند که می‌خندند قوم
The deaf man laughs then like them, without knowing the (inward) state of the laughers.1275
کر بخندد هم‌چو ایشان آن زمان ** بیخبر از حالت خندندگان
Afterwards he inquires what the laughter was about, and then, having heard, he laughs a second time.
باز وا پرسد که خنده بر چه بود ** پس دوم کرت بخندد چون شنود
Hence the mere imitator (of a Shaykh), too, resembles the deaf man in respect of the (feeling of) joy that is in his head.
پس مقلد نیز مانند کرست ** اندر آن شادی که او را در سرست
It is the Shaykh's reflexion, and its source is in the Shaykh: the overflow of joy is not (derived) from the disciples; nay, it is from the Shaykh.
پرتو شیخ آمد و منهل ز شیخ ** فیض شادی نه از مریدان بل ز شیخ
Like a basket in water or a (ray of) light on glass: if they think it (comes) from themselves, ’tis (owing to) defect (of intelligence).
چون سبد در آب و نوری بر زجاج ** گر ز خود دانند آن باشد خداج
When it (the basket) is separated from the river, that perverse one will recognise that the sweet water within it was from the river;1280
چون جدا گردد ز جو داند عنود ** که اندرو آن آب خوش از جوی بود
The glass also will recognise, at the setting (of the moon), that those beams (of light) were from the beauteous shining moon.
آبگینه هم بداند از غروب ** که آن لمع بود از مه تابان خوب
When the (Divine) command “Arise!” opens his (the imitator's) eye, then he will laugh, like the (true) dawn, a second time.
چونک چشمش را گشاید امر قم ** پس بخندد چون سحر بار دوم
He will even laugh at his own (former) laughter which was produced in him in that (period of) imitation,
خنده‌ش آید هم بر آن خنده‌ی خودش ** که در آن تقلید بر می‌آمدش
And will say (to himself), “(Travelling) by all these far and long ways, and thinking that this was the Reality and that this was the Mystery and Secret,
گوید از چندین ره دور و دراز ** کین حقیقت بود و این اسرار و راز
How forsooth, in that valley (of imitation), did I rejoice from afar through blindness and confusion?1285
من در آن وادی چگونه خود ز دور ** شادیی می‌کردم از عمیا و شور
What was I fancying, and what was it (in truth)? My weak perception was showing (only) a weak image (of the reality).”
من چه می‌بستم خیال و آن چه بود ** درک سستم سست نقشی می‌نمود
Where is the thought of the (holy) men in relation to the child of the (mystic) Way? Where is his fancy in comparison with true realisation?
طفل راه را فکرت مردان کجاست ** کو خیال او و کو تحقیق راست
The thought of children is (of) the nurse or milk or raisins and walnuts or weeping and crying.
فکر طفلان دایه باشد یا که شیر ** یا مویز و جوز یا گریه و نفیر
The imitator is like a sick child, although he may have (at his disposal) subtle argumentation and (logical) proofs.
آن مقلد هست چون طفل علیل ** گر چه دارد بحث باریک و دلیل
That profundity in (dealing with) proofs and difficult problems is severing him from (spiritual) insight.1290
آن تعمق در دلیل و در شکال ** از بصیرت می‌کند او را گسیل
It took away (from him) the stock (of insight), which is the collyrium of his inmost consciousness, and applied itself to the discussion of (formal) problems.
مایه‌ای کو سرمه‌ی سر ویست ** برد و در اشکال گفتن کار بست
O imitator, turn back from Bukhárá: go to self-abasement (ba-khwárí) that thou mayst become a (spiritual) hero,
ای مقلد از بخارا باز گرد ** رو به خواری تا شوی تو شیرمرد
And that thou mayst behold within (thee) another Bukhárá, in the assembly-place whereof the champions are unlearned.
تا بخارای دگر بینی درون ** صفدران در محفلش لا یفقهون
Although the courier is a swift runner on land, when he goes to sea his sinews are broken.
پیک اگر چه در زمین چابک‌تگیست ** چون به دریا رفت بسکسته رگیست
He is only (like those of whom God says in the Qur’án) We have borne them on the land; (but) that one who is borne on the sea—he is somebody.1295
او حملناهم بود فی‌البر و بس ** آنک محمولست در بحر اوست کس
The King (God) hath great bounty: run (to receive it), O thou who hast become in pawn to an imagination and fancy.
بخشش بسیار دارد شه بدو ** ای شده در وهم و تصویری گرو
From conformity that simple disciple, too, was weeping in concert with the venerable (Shaykh);
آن مرید ساده از تقلید نیز ** گریه‌ای می‌کرد وفق آن عزیز