(‘Tis) as when a mother, distraught (with grief) beside the grave of a child newly dead,
آن چنان که مادری دل‌برده‌ای ** پیش گور بچه‌ی نومرده‌ای
Utters heart-felt words earnestly and intensely: the inanimate (corpse) seems to her to be alive.3265
رازها گوید به جد و اجتهاد ** می‌نماید زنده او را آن جماد
She regards that dust as living and erect, she regards that rubbish as (having) an eye and an ear.
حی و قایم داند او آن خاک را ** چشم و گوشی داند او خاشاک را
To her, at the moment when she is crazed (with grief), every atom of the earth in the grave seems to have hearing and intelligence.
پیش او هر ذره‌ی آن خاک گور ** گوش دارد هوش دارد وقت شور
She believes with all her might that the earth is hearkening (to her): look well at this Love that works magic!
مستمع داند به جد آن خاک را ** خوش نگر این عشق ساحرناک را
Fondly and with tears she lays her face, time after time, on the fresh earth of the grave in such wise
آنچنان بر خاک گور تازه او ** دم‌بدم خوش می‌نهد با اشک رو
As during his life she never laid her face on the son who was so dear to her;3270
که بوقت زندگی هرگز چنان ** روی ننهادست بر پور چو جان
(But) when some days pass in mourning, the fire of her love sinks to rest.
از عزا چون چند روزی بگذرد ** آتش آن عشق او ساکن شود
Love for the dead is not lasting: keep your love (fixed) on the Living One who increases spiritual life.
عشق بر مرده نباشد پایدار ** عشق را بر حی جان‌افزای دار
Afterwards, indeed, from that grave (nothing) comes to her (but) slumber (indifference and oblivion): from an insensible object is born in her the same insensibility,
بعد از آن زان گور خود خواب آیدش ** از جمادی هم جمادی زایدش
Because Love has carried off his enchantment and gone away: as soon as the fire is sped, (only) ashes remain.
زانک عشق افسون خود بربود و رفت ** ماند خاکستر چو آتش رفت تفت
The (wise) Elder (Pír) beholds in the (iron) brick all that the (ignorant) young man beholds in the mirror.3275
آنچ بیند آن جوان در آینه ** پیر اندر خشت می‌بیند همه
The Elder is thy love, not (the owner of) a white beard. ‘Tis he (Love) that gives a helping hand to thousands who are in despair.
پیر عشق تست نه ریش سپید ** دستگیر صد هزاران ناامید
In (the hour of) separation Love fashions forms (of phantasy); in the hour of union the Formless One puts forth his head,
عشق صورتها بسازد در فراق ** نامصور سر کند وقت تلاق
Saying, “I am the ultimate origin of sobriety and intoxication: the beauty in (all) forms is reflected from Me.
که منم آن اصل اصل هوش و مست ** بر صور آن حسن عکس ما بدست
At this moment I have removed the veils: I have raised Beauty on high without intermediaries.
پرده‌ها را این زمان برداشتم ** حسن را بی‌واسطه بفراشتم
Because thou hast been much occupied with My reflexion, thou hast gained the power to contemplate My essence denuded (of the forms by which it is veiled).3280
زانک بس با عکس من در بافتی ** قوت تجرید ذاتم یافتی
When My pull is set in motion (begins to be exerted) from this side, he (the Christian) does not see (is not conscious of) the priest intervening (between him and Me).”
چون ازین سو جذبه‌ی من شد روان ** او کشش را می‌نبیند در میان
(At that time) he is craving forgiveness for his sins and trespasses from the grace of God behind the veil.
مغفرت می‌خواهد از جرم و خطا ** از پس آن پرده از لطف خدا
When a fountain gushes from a rock, the rock disappears in the fountain.
چون ز سنگی چشمه‌ای جاری شود ** سنگ اندر چشمه متواری شود
After that, no one calls it “stone,” seeing that such a pure substance has gushed forth from the rock.
کس نخواهد بعد از آن او را حجر ** زانک جاری شد از آن سنگ آن گهر
Know that these forms are (like) bowls and acquire excellence through that which God pours into them.3285
کاسه‌ها دان این صور را واندرو ** آنچ حق ریزد بدان گیرد علو
How the kinsfolk of Majnún said to him, “The beauty of Laylá is limited, it is not so very great: in our city there are many fairer than she. We will show unto thee one or two or ten: take thy choice, and deliver us (from reproach) and thyself (from affliction)”; and how Majnún answered them.
گفتن خویشاوندان مجنون را کی حسن لیلی باندازه‌ایست چندان نیست ازو نغزتر در شهر ما بسیارست یکی و دو و ده بر تو عرضه کنیم اختیار کن ما را و خود را وا رهان و جواب گفتن مجنون ایشان را
The fools in their ignorance said to Majnún, “The beauty of Laylá is not so very great, it is of slight account.
ابلهان گفتند مجنون را ز جهل ** حسن لیلی نیست چندان هست سهل
There are thousands of moon-like sweethearts fairer than she in our city.”
بهتر از وی صد هزاران دلربا ** هست هم‌چون ماه اندر شهر ما
He replied, “The (outward) form is a pot, and beauty is the wine: God is giving me wine from her form.
گفت صورت کوزه است و حسن می ** می خدایم می‌دهد از نقش وی