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
He gave you vinegar from her pot, lest love of her should pull you by the ears.”
مر شما را سرکه داد از کوزهاش ** تا نباشد عشق اوتان گوش کش
The hand of God, the Almighty and Glorious, gives poison or honey to every one from the same pot.3290
از یکی کوزه دهد زهر و عسل ** هر یکی را دست حق عز و جل
Thou seest the pot, but the wine does not show itself to the wrong eye.
کوزه میبینی ولیکن آب شراب ** روی ننماید به چشم ناصواب
Spiritual experience is (like) the women who look modestly: it shows no sign but to its possessor.
قاصرات الطرف باشد ذوق جان ** جز به خصم خود بنماید نشان
That wine is (like) the women who look modestly, while these vessels screening it (from view) are like the tents.
قاصرات الطرف آمد آن مدام ** وین حجاب ظرفها همچون خیام
The great river (too) is (like) a tent, wherein is life for the duck, but death for crows.
هست دریا خیمهای در وی حیات ** بط را لیکن کلاغان را ممات
Venom also is the snake's food and provision, (but) its venom is anguish and death to others.3295
زهر باشد مار را هم قوت و برگ ** غیر او را زهر او دردست و مرگ
The form of every blessing and affliction is a Hell to this one, a Paradise to that one.
صورت هر نعمتی و محنتی ** هست این را دوزخ آن را جنتی
Therefore (though) ye see all bodies and things, and there is food and poison in them (all)—ye see (it) not.
پس همه اجسام و اشیا تبصرون ** واندرو قوتست و سم لاتبصرون
Every body resembles a bowl or a pot, wherein is both food and a (cause of) heart-burning.
هست هر جسمی چو کاسه و کوزهای ** اندرو هم قوت و هم دلسوزهای
The bowl is visible, the plenty (contained) in it is hidden: (only) he who tastes it (the contents) knows what he is eating or drinking from it.
کاسه پیدا اندرو پنهان رغد ** طاعمش داند کزان چه میخورد
The form of Joseph was like a beauteous cup: from it his father drank a hundred exhilarating wines.3300
صورت یوسف چو جامی بود خوب ** زان پدر میخورد صد بادهی طروب
Again, to his brethren (the draught they took) from it was poisoned water which was increasing in them anger and hatred.
باز اخوان را از آن زهراب بود ** کان دریشان خشم و کینه میفزود