You say to me, “For the sake of the (Divine) reward, do not go into the water-tank without having washed”;
تو مرا گویی که از بهر ثواب ** غسل ناکرده مرو در حوض آب
(But) outside of the tank there is nothing but earth: no one who does not enter the tank is clean.
از برون حوض غیر خاک نیست ** هر که او در حوض ناید پاک نیست
If the waters have not the grace to receive filth continually,
گر نباشد آبها را این کرم ** کو پذیرد مر خبث را دم به دم
Alas for the longing lover and his hope! Oh, sorrow for his everlasting sorrow!1200
وای بر مشتاق و بر اومید او ** حسرتا بر حسرت جاوید او
(Nay, but) the water hath a hundred graces, a hundred (noble) pities, for it receives the defiled ones (and purifies them)—and peace (be with thee)!
آب دارد صد کرم صد احتشام ** که پلیدان را پذیرد والسلام
O thou Radiance of God, Husámu’ddín, the Light is thy protector from the worst of flying creatures.
ای ضیاء الحق حسام‌الدین که نور ** پاسبان تست از شر الطیور
The Light and its ascent are thy protector, O Sun who art concealed from the bat.
پاسبان تست نور و ارتقاش ** ای تو خورشید مستر از خفاش
The veil before the face of the Sun, what is it but excess of brilliance and intensity of splendour?
چیست پرده پیش روی آفتاب ** جز فزونی شعشعه و تیزی تاب
The veil over the Sun is just the Light of the Lord: the bat and the night have no lot therein.1205
پرده‌ی خورشید هم نور ربست ** بی‌نصیب از وی خفاشست و شبست
Inasmuch as both (of them) have remained far (from the Sun) and veiled (from it), they have remained either black-faced (like Night) or cold (like the bat).
هر دو چون در بعد و پرده مانده‌اند ** یا سیه‌رو یا فسرده مانده‌اند
Since thou hast written part of the story of the New-moon (Hilál), (now) put into words the tale of the Full-moon.
چون نبشتی بعضی از قصه‌ی هلال ** داستان بدر آر اندر مقال
The New-moon and the Full-moon have oneness (with each other): they are far from duality and from imperfection and corruption.
آن هلال و بدر دارند اتحاد ** از دوی دورند و از نقص و فساد
The new-moon is inwardly free from imperfection: its apparent imperfection is (due to its) increasing gradually.
آن هلال از نقص در باطن بریست ** آن به ظاهر نقص تدریج آوریست
Night by night it gives a lesson in gradualness, and with deliberation it produces relief (for itself).1210
درس گوید شب به شب تدریج را ** در تانی بر دهد تفریج را
With deliberation it says, “O hasty fool, (only) step by step can one mount to the roof.”
در تانی گوید ای عجول خام ** پایه‌پایه بر توان رفتن به بام
Let the cooking-pot boil gradually, as a skilful (cook) does: the stew boiled in a mad hurry is of no use.
دیگ را تدریج و استادانه جوش ** کار ناید قلیه‌ی دیوانه جوش
Was not God able to create heaven in one moment by (the word) “Be”? Without any doubt (He was).
حق نه قادر بود بر خلق فلک ** در یکی لحظه به کن بی‌هیچ شک
Why, then, O seeker of instruction, did He extend (the time) for it to six days, every day (being as long as) a thousand years?
پس چرا شش روز آن را درکشید ** کل یوم الف عام ای مستفید
Wherefore is the creation of a child (completed) in nine months? Because gradualness is a characteristic of (the action of) that King.1215
خلقت طفل از چه اندر نه مه‌است ** زانک تدریج از شعار آن شه‌است
Why was (the time occupied in) the creation of Adam forty mornings? (Because) He (God) was adding (perfections) to that clay little by little,
خلقت آدم چرا چل صبح بود ** اندر آن گل اندک‌اندک می‌فزود
Not like you, O foolish one, who have rushed forward just now: you are a child, and you have made yourself out to be an Elder.
نه چو تو ای خام که اکنون تاختی ** طفلی و خود را تو شیخی ساختی
You have run up, like a gourd, to the top of all, (but) where is the (spiritual) warfare and combat to sustain you?
بر دویدی چون کدو فوق همه ** کو ترا پای جهاد و ملحمه
You have rested on trees and walls for support: you have climbed up like a pumpkin, O little baldhead.
تکیه کردی بر درختان و جدار ** بر شدی ای اقرعک هم قرع‌وار
If at first you mounted on a tall cypress, yet in the end you are dry and pulpless and empty.1220
اول ار شد مرکبت سرو سهی ** لیک آخر خشک و بی‌مغزی تهی
Your green (fresh) colour soon turned yellow (faded), O pumpkin, for it was derived from rouge, it was not original.
رنگ سبزت زرد شد ای قرع زود ** زانک از گلگونه بود اصلی نبود
Story of the old woman who used to depilate and rouge her ugly face, though it could never be put right and become pleasing.
داستان آن عجوزه کی روی زشت خویشتن را جندره و گلگونه می‌ساخت و ساخته نمی‌شد و پذیرا نمی‌آمد