The star shows the way in (desert) sands and on the sea: fix thine eye on the (spiritual) Star, for he is the one to be followed.
نجم اندر ریگ و دریا رهنماست ** چشم اندر نجم نه کو مقتداست
Keep thine eye always paired with (unseparated from) his face: do not stir up dust by way of discussion and argument,2645
چشم را با روی او میدار جفت ** گرد منگیزان ز راه بحث و گفت
Because the Star will be hidden by that dust: the eye is better than the stumbling tongue.
زانک گردد نجم پنهان زان غبار ** چشم بهتر از زبان با عثار
(Be silent) in order that he may speak whose innermost garment is (Divine) inspiration which lays the dust and does not stir up trouble.
تا بگوید او که وحیستش شعار ** کان نشاند گرد و ننگیزد غبار
When Adam became the theatre of (Divine) inspiration and love, his rational soul revealed (to him) the knowledge of the Names.
چون شد آدم مظهر وحی و وداد ** ناطقهی او علم الاسما گشاد
His tongue, (reading) from the page of his heart, recited the name of everything as it (really) is.
نام هر چیزی چنانک هست آن ** از صحیفهی دل روی گشتش زبان
Through his (inward) vision his tongue was divulging the properties and quiddities of all things.2650
فاش میگفتی زبان از ریتش ** جمله را خاصیت و ماهیتش
(It was bestowing) such a name as fits the things (named), not so as to call a catamite a lion (hero).
آنچنان نامی که اشیا را سزد ** نه چنانک حیز را خواند اسد
Nine hundred years Noah (walked) in the straight way, and every day he had a new sermon to preach.
نوح نهصد سال در راه سوی ** بود هر روزیش تذکیر نوی
His ruby (lip) drew its eloquence from the corundum (precious jewel) in the hearts (of prophets): he had not read (mystical books like) the Risála or the Qútu ’l-qulúb.
لعل او گویا ز یاقوت القلوب ** نه رساله خوانده نه قوت القلوب
He had never learned to preach from (studying) commentaries; nay, (he learned) from the fountain of revelations and from the exposition (set forth) by the spirit—
وعظ را ناموخته هیچ از شروح ** بلک ینبوع کشوف و شرح روح
From the wine that (is so potent that) when it is quaffed the water of speech gushes from (the mouth of) the dumb,2655
زان میی کان می چو نوشیده شود ** آب نطق از گنگ جوشیده شود
And the new-born child becomes an eloquent divine and, like the Messiah (Christ), recites (words of) mature wisdom.
طفل نوزاده شود حبر فصیح ** حکمت بالغ بخواند چون مسیح
The prophet David learned a hundred odes (melodies) from the mountain that gained from that wine (the gift of) sweet song.
از کهی که یافت زان می خوشلبی ** صد غزل آموخت داود نبی
All the birds left off chirping and joined their voices with King David as accompanists.
جمله مرغان ترک کرده چیک چیک ** همزبان و یار داود ملیک
What wonder that a bird should be enraptured by him, since (even) iron obeyed the call of his hand?
چه عجب که مرغ گردد مست او ** هم شنود آهن ندای دست او
A roaring wind became murderous to (the people of) ‘Ád, (but) to Solomon it became (serviceable) as a carrier.2660
صرصری بر عاد قتالی شده ** مر سلیمان را چو حمالی شده
A roaring wind carried on its head the throne of the king (Solomon) a month's journey every morn and eve.
صرصری میبرد بر سر تخت شاه ** هر صباح و هر مسا یک ماهه راه