(As when) a black ant (moves along) on a black felt cloth: the ant is hidden (from view), (only) the grain is visible on its way,
مور اسود بر سر لبد سیاه ** مور پنهان دانه پیدا پیش راه
(But) Reason says, “Look well to your eye: when does a grain ever go along without a grain-bearer?”
عقل گوید چشم را نیکو نگر ** دانه هرگز کی رود بی دانه‌بر
(’Twas) on this account (that) the dog came to the Companions (of the Cave): the (outward) forms are (like) the grains, while the heart (spirit) is (like) the ant.
زین سبب آمد سوی اصحاب کلب ** هست صورتها حبوب و مور قلب
Hence Jesus goes (ascends) to the holy ones of Heaven: the cages (bodies) were diverse, (but) the young birds (spirits) were of the same kind.
زان شود عیسی سوی پاکان چرخ ** بد قفس‌ها مختلف یک جنس فرخ
This cage is visible, but the young bird in it is hidden (from sight): how should the cage be moving without a cage-carrier?2965
این قفس پیدا و آن فرخش نهان ** بی‌قفس کش کی قفس باشد روان
Oh, blessed is the eye that is ruled by reason, (the eye) that discerns the end and is wise and cool.
ای خنک چشمی که عقلستش امیر ** عاقبت‌بین باشد و حبر و قریر
Get (learn) the distinction between evil and good from reason, not from the eye that tells (only) of black and white.
فرق زشت و نغز از عقل آورید ** نی ز چشمی کز سیه گفت و سپید
The eye is beguiled by the verdure on dunghills, (but) reason says, “Put it to my touchstone.”
چشم غره شد به خضرای دمن ** عقل گوید بر محک ماش زن
The eye that sees (only) its (object of) desire is the bird's bane; reason, which sees the trap, is the bird's means of deliverance.
آفت مرغست چشم کام‌بین ** مخلص مرغست عقل دام‌بین
(But) there was another trap which reason did not perceive; hence the inspiration which beholds the unseen sped in this direction.2970
دام دیگر بد که عقلش در نیافت ** وحی غایب‌بین بدین سو زان شتافت
By reason you can recognise congener and non-congener: you ought not to run at once to (outward) forms.
جنس و ناجنس از خرد دانی شناخت ** سوی صورتها نشاید زود تاخت
My being your congener is not in respect of (outward) form: Jesus, in the form of man, was (really) homogeneous with the angels
نیست جنسیت به صورت لی و لک ** عیسی آمد در بشر جنس ملک
The celestial Bird (Gabriel) carried him up above this dark-blue fortress (vault) as the raven (carried) the frog.
برکشیدش فوق این نیلی‌حصار ** مرغ گردونی چو چغزش زاغ‌وار
Story of ‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth and his being carried off by the peris and staying among them for years, and how after (many) years he returned to his (native) town and his children, but could not endure to be parted from the peris, because he was really their congener and spiritually one with them.
قصه‌ی عبدالغوث و ربودن پریان او را و سالها میان پریان ساکن شدن او و بعد از سالها آمدن او به شهر و فرزندان خویش را باز ناشکیفتن او از آن پریان بحکم جنسیت و همدلی او با ایشان
‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth was a congener of the peri: for nine years he was flying about invisibly, like a peri.
بود عبدالغوث هم‌جنس پری ** چون پری نه سال در پنهان‌پری
His wife had offspring by another husband, and his (‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth's) orphans used to talk of his death,2975
شد زنش را نسل از شوی دگر ** وآن یتیمانش ز مرگش در سمر
Saying, “A wolf or a brigand (must have) attacked him, or (perhaps) he fell into a pit or ambush.”
که مرورا گرگ زد یا ره‌زنی ** یا فتاد اندر چهی یا مکمنی
All his children were passionately absorbed in (worldly) occupations: they never said (thought) that they had a father (who might be alive).
جمله فرزندانش در اشغال مست ** خود نگفتندی که بابایی بدست
After nine years he came (back) temporarily: he appeared and (then) disappeared again.
بعد نه سال آمد او هم عاریه ** گشت پیدا باز شد متواریه
He was the guest of his children for one month, and after that nobody saw any more of him.
یک مهی مهمان فرزندان خویش ** بود و زان پس کس ندیدش رنگ بیش
(Inward) homogeneity with the peris carried him off, just as a spear-thrust ravishes the spirit (from the body).2980
برد هم جنسی پریانش چنان ** که رباید روح را زخم سنان
Since one who is destined for Paradise is (inwardly) homogeneous with Paradise, on account of homogeneity he also becomes a worshipper of God.
چون بهشتی جنس جنت آمدست ** هم ز جنسیت شود یزدان‌پرست
Has not the Prophet said, “Know that liberality and virtue are (drooping) branches of (the trees in) Paradise (and have) come (have been let down) into this world”?
نه نبی فرمود جود و محمده ** شاخ جنت دان به دنیا آمده
Declare all loves to be homogeneous with (Divine) Love; deem all wraths to be homogeneous with (Divine) Wrath.
مهرها را جمله جنس مهر خوان ** قهرها را جمله جنس قهر دان
The reckless man gets a reckless man (as his comrade), because they are congenial in respect of their understanding.
لاابالی لا ابالی آورد ** زانک جنس هم بوند اندر خرد
The congeniality (spiritual affinity) in Idrís was (derived) from the stars: for eight years he was coming along with Saturn.2985
بود جنسیت در ادریس از نجوم ** هشت سال او با زحل بد در قدوم