The greatness of the (traveller's) goal, O well-tried man, is (shown by) the intricate windings of the way and the mountain-passes and the brigands (infesting them).
عزت مقصد بود ای ممتحن ** پیچ پیچ راه و عقبه و راه‌زن
The greatness of the Ka‘ba and its assembly-place is (shown by) the brigandage of the Beduins and the length of the desert (traversed by the pilgrims).
عزت کعبه بود و آن نادیه ** ره‌زنی اعراب و طول بادیه
Every (religious) doctrine, every tenet, that is not praiseworthy is (like) a mountain-pass and a barrier and a brigand.3225
هر روش هر ره که آن محمود نیست ** عقبه‌ای و مانعی و ره‌زنیست
This doctrine has become the adversary and bitter enemy of that, so that the imitator (who adopts the beliefs of others) is in a dilemma;
این روش خصم و حقود آن شده ** تا مقلد در دو ره حیران شده
(For) he sees that both the opponents are firm in their doctrine: every sect is pleased with its own path.
صدق هر دو ضد بیند در روش ** هر فریقی در ره خود خوش منش
If it has no reply (to the arguments brought against it), it will cling obstinately to the same formula till the Day of Resurrection,
گر جوابش نیست می‌بندد ستیز ** بر همان دم تا به روز رستخیز
Saying, “Our great authorities know the reply to this, although the right method (of answering) is hidden from us.”
که مهان ما بدانند این جواب ** گرچه از ما شد نهان وجه صواب
The only muzzle for evil suggestions (of doubt) is Love; else, when has any one (ever) stopped (such) temptation?3230
پوزبند وسوسه عشقست و بس ** ورنه کی وسواس را بستست کس
Become a lover, seek a fair minion, hunt a waterfowl from river to river.
How will you get water (spirituality) from that one who takes your water away? How will you apprehend (the truth) from that one (who) consumes your (spiritual) apprehension?
کی بری زان آب کان آبت برد ** کی کنی زان فهم فهمت را خورد
In Love, (which is) glorious and resplendent, you will find intelligible things other than these intelligible things.
غیر این معقولها معقولها ** یابی اندر عشق با فر و بها
To God belong intelligences other than this intelligence of yours, (intelligences) by which the mediate celestial things are ruled;
غیر این عقل تو حق را عقلهاست ** که بدان تدبیر اسباب سماست
For by this (individual) intelligence you procure the means of subsistence, (while) by that other (universal intelligence) you make the tiers of Heaven a carpet (under your feet).3235
که بدین عقل آوری ارزاق را ** زان دگر مفرش کنی اطباق را
When you gamble away (sacrifice) your intelligence in love of the Lord, He gives you ten like unto it or seven hundred.
چون ببازی عقل در عشق صمد ** عشر امثالت دهد یا هفت‌صد
Those women (of Egypt), when they gambled away (sacrificed) their intelligences, sped onward to the pavilion of Joseph's love.
آن زنان چون عقلها درباختند ** بر رواق عشق یوسف تاختند
(Love which is) the cupbearer of life took away their intelligence in one moment: they drank their fill of wisdom all the rest of their lives.
عقلشان یک‌دم ستد ساقی عمر ** سیر گشتند از خرد باقی مرد
The beauty of the Almighty is the source of a hundred Josephs: O you who are less than a woman, devote yourself to that beauty!
اصل صد یوسف جمال ذوالجلال ** ای کم از زن شو فدای آن جمال
O (dear) soul, Love alone cuts disputation short, for it (alone) comes to the rescue when you cry for help against arguments.3240
عشق برد بحث را ای جان و بس ** کو ز گفت و گو شود فریاد رس
Eloquence is dumbfounded by Love: it dare not engage in altercation;
حیرتی آید ز عشق آن نطق را ** زهره نبود که کند او ماجرا
For he (the lover) fears that, if he answer back, a pearl (his inner experience) may fall out of his mouth.
که بترسد گر جوابی وا دهد ** گوهری از لنج او بیرون فتد
He closes his lips tight against (uttering) good or evil (words) lest the pearl should fall from his mouth (and be lost),
لب ببندد سخت او از خیر و شر ** تا نباید کز دهان افتد گهر
Even as the Companion of the Prophet said, “Whenever the Prophet recited sections (of the Qur’án) to us,
هم‌چنانک گفت آن یار رسول ** چون نبی بر خواندی بر ما فصول
At the moment of munificence that chosen Messenger would demand of us attentiveness and a hundred reverences.”3245
آن رسول مجتبی وقت نثار ** خواستی از ما حضور و صد وقار
’Tis as when a bird is (perched) on your head, and your soul trembles for fear of its flitting,
آنچنان که بر سرت مرغی بود ** کز فواتش جان تو لرزان شود
So you dare not stir from your place, lest your beautiful bird should take to the air;
پس نیاری هیچ جنبیدن ز جا ** تا نگیرد مرغ خوب تو هوا