Since God is the Governor of the Mint, how is it that (both) good and spurious coins are struck?
چونک دار الضرب را سلطان خداست ** نقد را چون ضرب خوب و نارواست
Since God has called the Way ‘My Way,’ wherefore is this one a trusty escort and that one a brigand?1610
چون خدا فرمود ره را راه من ** این خفیر از چیست و آن یک راه‌زن
How can (both) the (noble) freeman and the (base) fool come from a single womb, since it is certain that the son is (the expression of) his father’s inmost nature?
از یک اشکم چون رسد حر و سفیه ** چون یقین شد الولد سر ابیه
Who (ever) saw a Unity with so many thousand (numbers), (or) a hundred thousand motions (proceeding) from the essence of Rest?”
وحدتی که دید با چندین هزار ** صد هزاران جنبش از عین قرار
The Cadi’s reply to the Súfi.
جواب گفتن آن قاضی صوفی را
The Cadi said, “O Súfí, do not be perplexed: hearken to a parable in explanation of this (mystery).
گفت قاضی صوفیا خیره مشو ** یک مثالی در بیان این شنو
(‘Tis) just as the disquiet of lovers is the result of the tranquillity of the one who captivates their hearts.
هم‌چنانک بی‌قراری عاشقان ** حاصل آمد از قرار دلستان
He stands immovable, like a mountain, in his disdain, while his lovers are quivering like leaves.1615
او چو که در ناز ثابت آمده ** عاشقان چون برگها لرزان شده
His laughter stirs (them to) tears, his glory causes their glories to fade.
خنده‌ی او گریه‌ها انگیخته ** آب رویش آب روها ریخته
All this conditionality is tossing like foam on the surface of the unconditioned Sea.
این همه چون و چگونه چون زبد ** بر سر دریای بی‌چون می‌طپد
In its (the Sea’s) essence and action there is neither opposite nor like: by it (alone) are (all) existences clothed in robes (of existence).
ضد و ندش نیست در ذات و عمل ** زان بپوشیدند هستیها حلل
How should an opposite bestow being and existence on its opposite? Nay, it flees and escapes from it.
ضد ضد را بود و هستی کی دهد ** بلک ازو بگریزد و بیرون جهد
What is (the meaning of) nidd? The like (mithl) of (something) good or bad. How should a like make its own like?1620
ند چه بود مثل مثل نیک و بد ** مثل مثل خویشتن را کی کند
When there are two likes, O God-fearing man, why should this one be more fit than that one for (the purpose of) creating?
چونک دو مثل آمدند ای متقی ** این چه اولیتر از آن در خالقی
Opposites and likes, in number as the leaves of the orchard, are (but) as a flake of foam on the Sea that hath no like or opposite.
بر شمار برگ بستان ند و ضد ** چون کفی بر بحر بی‌ضدست و ند
Perceive that the victory and defeat of the Sea are unconditioned: how, (then), should there be room for conditionality in the essence of the Sea?
بی‌چگونه بین تو برد و مات بحر ** چون چگونه گنجد اندر ذات بحر
Your soul is the least of its playthings; (yet) how can the quality and description of the soul be ascertained?
کمترین لعبت او جان تست ** این چگونه و چون جان کی شد درست
Such a Sea, then, with every drop whereof the intellect and the spirit are more unfamiliar than the body—1625
پس چنان بحری که در هر قطر آن ** از بدن ناشی‌تر آمد عقل و جان
How should it be contained in the narrow room of quantity and quality? There (even) Universal Reason is one of the ignorant.
کی بگنجد در مضیق چند و چون ** عقل کل آنجاست از لا یعلمون
Reason says to the body, ‘O lifeless thing, hast thou ever had a scent of the Sea whither all return?’
عقل گوید مر جسد را که ای جماد ** بوی بردی هیچ از آن بحر معاد
The body replies, ‘Assuredly I am thy shadow: who would seek help from a shadow, O soul of thy uncle?’
جسم گوید من یقین سایه‌ی توم ** یاری از سایه که جوید جان عم
Reason says, ‘This is the house of bewilderment, not a house where the worthy is bolder than the unworthy.’
عقل گوید کین نه آن حیرت سراست ** که سزا گستاخ‌تر از ناسزاست
Here the resplendent sun pays homage to the mote, like a menial.1630
اندرینجا آفتاب انوری ** خدمت ذره کند چون چاکری
In this quarter the lion lays his head (in submission) before the deer; here the falcon lays (droops) his wings before the partridge.
شیر این سو پیش آهو سر نهد ** باز اینجا نزد تیهو پر نهد
(If) you cannot believe this, (then) how is it that Mustafá (Mohammed) seeks a blessing from the lowly poor?
این ترا باور نیاید مصطفی ** چون ز مسکینان همی‌جوید دعا
If you reply that it was for the purpose of teaching (his followers) in what respect was his leaving them in absolute ignorance (of the reason for his action) a means of causing them to understand?
گر بگویی از پی تعلیم بود ** عین تجهیل از چه رو تفهیم بود