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
Again, to Zalíkhá (the draught she took) from it was (sweet as) sugar: she was quaffing a different opiate from (the hand of) Love.
باز از وی مر زلیخا را سکر ** می‌کشید از عشق افیونی دگر
The nutriment which came from Joseph to that fair one was other than that which came to Jacob.
غیر آنچ بود مر یعقوب را ** بود از یوسف غذا آن خوب را
The sherbets are various, but the pot is one, in order that no doubt may remain in thee concerning the wine of the Unseen.
گونه‌گونه شربت و کوزه یکی ** تا نماند در می غیبت شکی
The wine belongs to the Unseen, the pot to this world: the pot is apparent, the wine in it is very hidden:3305
باده از غیبست و کوزه زین جهان ** کوزه پیدا باده در وی بس نهان
Very hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated, but manifest and evident to the adept.
بس نهان از دیده‌ی نامحرمان ** لیک بر محرم هویدا و عیان
O my God, our eyes have been intoxicated. Forgive us: our burdens have been made heavy.
یا الهی سکرت ابصارنا ** فاعف عنا اثقلت اوزارنا
O concealed One who hast filled (the world) from East to West (with Thy radiance) and art exalted above the light of the Orient and the Occident,
یا خفیا قد ملات الخافقین ** قد علوت فوق نور المشرقین
Thou art an inmost Ground of consciousness revealing our inmost thoughts, Thou art a bursting (Force) that causes our (dammed-up) rivers to burst forth.
انت سر کاشف اسرارنا ** انت فجر مفجر انهارنا
O Thou whose Essence is hidden while Thy gifts are sensible, Thou art as the water and we as the millstone.3310
یا خفی الذات محسوس العطا ** انت کالماء و نحن کالرحا
Thou art as the wind and we as the dust: the wind is hidden while the dust blown by it is plainly visible.
انت کالریح و نحن کالغبار ** تختفی الریح و غبراها جهار