Whoever went towards the right (hand) and the limpid water would put forth his head from the fire on the left;
هر که سوی راست شد و آب زلال ** سر ز آتش بر زد از سوی شمال
And he who went towards the fiery left, would emerge on the right.
وانک شد سوی شمال آتشین ** سر برون می‌کرد از سوی یمین
Few were they who hit upon (understood) the mystery of this occult (matter); consequently, seldom would any one go into the fire;430
کم کسی بر سر این مضمر زدی ** لاجرم کم کس در آن آتش شدی
(None would go) except him upon whom felicity was shed, so that he abandoned the water and took refuge in the fire.
جز کسی که بر سرش اقبال ریخت ** کو رها کرد آب و در آتش گریخت
The people made the pleasure that was actually present their object of worship; consequently the people were swindled by this game.
کرده ذوق نقد را معبود خلق ** لاجرم زین لعب مغبون بود خلق
Troop by troop and rank by rank, (they were) on their guard against the fire and fleeing greedily and in haste towards the water.
جوق‌جوق وصف صف از حرص و شتاب ** محترز ز آتش گریزان سوی آب
Of necessity, they lifted up their heads (emerged) from (amidst) the fire. Take warning, take warning, O heedless man!
لاجرم ز آتش برآوردند سر ** اعتبارالاعتبار ای بی‌خبر
The fire was crying, ‘O crazy fools, I am not fire, I am a delectable fountain.435
بانگ می‌زد آتش ای گیجان گول ** من نیم آتش منم چشمه‌ی قبول
A spell has been cast on thine eyes, O sightless one: come into me and never flee from the sparks.
چشم‌بندی کرده‌اند ای بی‌نظر ** در من آی و هیچ مگریز از شرر
O (thou who art as) Khalíl (Abraham), here are no sparks and smoke: ’tis naught but the sorcery and deceit of Nimrod.
ای خلیل اینجا شرار و دود نیست ** جز که سحر و خدعه‌ی نمرود نیست
If, like the Friend of God, thou art wise, the fire is thy water, and thou art the moth.’”
چون خلیل حق اگر فرزانه‌ای ** آتش آب تست و تو پروانه‌ای
The soul of the moth is always crying, “Oh, alas, would that I had a hundred thousand wings,
جان پروانه همی‌دارد ندا ** کای دریغا صد هزارم پر بدی
That they might be consumed without mercy by the fire, to the blindness (confusion) of the eyes and hearts of the profane!440
تا همی سوزید ز آتش بی‌امان ** کوری چشم و دل نامحرمان
The ignorant man pities me from stupidity: I pity him from clairvoyance.
بر من آرد رحم جاهل از خری ** من برو رحم آرم از بینش‌وری
Especially this fire (of Love), which is the soul of (all) waters (delights); (but) the behaviour of the (ignorant) moth is contrary to ours.
خاصه این آتش که جان آبهاست ** کار پروانه به عکس کار ماست
It sees the light and goes into a Fire; the heart (of the mystic) sees the fire and goes into a Light.”
او ببینند نور و در ناری رود ** دل ببیند نار و در نوری شود
Such a (deceptive) game is played by the Glorious God in order that you may see who belongs to the kin of Khalíl (Abraham).
این چنین لعب آمد از رب جلیل ** تا ببینی کیست از آل خلیل
A fire has been given the semblance of water, and in the fire a fountain has been opened.445
آتشی را شکل آبی داده‌اند ** واندر آتش چشمه‌ای بگشاده‌اند
A magician by his art makes a dish of rice (appear to be) a dish full of (tiny) worms in the assembly;
ساحری صحن برنجی را به فن ** صحن پر کرمی کند در انجمن
(Or) by the breath (power) of magic he has caused a room to appear full of scorpions, though in truth there were no scorpions.
خانه را او پر ز کزدمها نمود ** از دم سحر و خود آن کزدم نبود
When sorcery produces a hundred such illusions, how (much greater) must be the cunning of the Creator of sorcery?
چونک جادو می‌نماید صد چنین ** چون بود دستان جادوآفرین
Of necessity, through the magic of God generation after generation have fallen down (been vanquished), like a woman (lying) flat beneath (sub marito). [Of necessity, through the magic of God generation after generation have fallen down (been vanquished), like a woman (lying) flat beneath (under her husband).]
لاجرم از سحر یزدان قرن قرن ** اندر افتادند چون زن زیر پهن
Their magicians were slaves and servants, and fell into the trap (of Divine cunning) like wagtails.450
ساحرانشان بنده بودند و غلام ** اندر افتادند چون صعوه به دام
Hark, read the Qur’án and behold lawful magic (in) the overthrow of plots (huge) as the mountains.