Rumi's Masnavi - (Whilst) thou art inside the egg, like chicks, thou canst not hear the glorification of God by the birds of the (supermundane) air.

(Whilst) thou art inside the egg, like chicks, thou canst not hear the glorification of God by the birds of the (supermundane) air.

در میان بیضه‌ای چون فرخ‌ها ** نشنوی تسبیح مرغان هوا

The miracles (of the Prophet) will not be set forth here: tell of the horse and the Khwárizmsháh and what happened. 3450

معجزات این‌جا نخواهد شرح گشت ** ز اسپ و خوارمشاه گو و سرگذشت

Whatsoever the sun of God's grace shines upon, whether it be dog or horse, gains (is endowed with) the glory of the Cave;

آفتاب لطف حق بر هر چه تافت ** از سگ و از اسپ فر کهف یافت

Yet deem not the radiance of His grace to be uniform: it has given a sign (distinctive character) to the pebble and the ruby.

تاب لطفش را تو یکسان هم مدان ** سنگ را و لعل را داد او نشان

From that (radiance) the ruby has a borrowed treasure, (while) the pebble has only heat and brightness.

لعل را زان هست گنج مقتبس ** سنگ را گرمی و تابانی و بس

(The radiance of) the sun falling on a wall is not the same as (when it is reflected) from water and quivering movement.

آنک بر دیوار افتد آفتاب ** آن‌چنان نبود کز آب و اضطراب

After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk, 3455

چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد

Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”

کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین

Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.

پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو

That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet

در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک

The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”

هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش

These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight. 3460

در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد

When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.

چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی

When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,

چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود

And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;

پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب

But ’tis a (mere) phantom and not (really) a jug: the aim of the broker (the Devil) is naught but trickery.

وان خیالی باشد و ابریق نی ** قصد آن دلال جز تخریق نی

At this (present) time, when you are healthy and fat, you are giving up the Truth for a phantom. 3465

این زمان که تو صحیح و فربهی ** صدق را بهر خیالی می‌دهی

You are constantly selling the pearls of the (spiritual) mine and taking walnuts (in exchange), like a child;

می‌فروشی هر زمانی در کان ** هم‌چو طفلی می‌ستانی گردگان

Therefore it is no wonder if you act in this (same) way in the (mortal) sickness of your day of doom (death).

پس در آن رنجوری روز اجل ** نیست نادر گر بود اینت عمل

You have concocted an idea (a vain notion) in your fancy: when you are rattled (tested) like a walnut, you are (proved to be) rotten.

در خیالت صورتی جوشیده‌ای ** هم‌چو جوزی وقت دق پوسیده‌ای

In the beginning that phantom resembles the full-moon, but in the end it will become like the new-moon.

هست از آغاز چون بدر آن خیال ** لیک آخر می‌شود هم‌چون هلال

If you regard its first (state) as being (really) like its last (state), you will be quit of its feeble deception. 3470

گر تو اول بنگری چون آخرش ** فارغ آیی از فریب فاترش

This world is a rotten walnut: O man of trust, do not make trial of it, (but) behold it from afar.

جوز پوسیده‌ست دنیا ای امین ** امتحانش کم کن از دورش ببین

The king viewed the horse with regard to the present, while the ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk (viewed it) with regard to the future.

شاه دید آن اسپ را با چشم حال ** وآن عمادالملک با چشم مل

The king's eye, because of (its) distortion, saw (only) two ells, (but) the eye of him who regarded the end saw fifty ells.

چشم شه دو گز همی دید از لغز ** چشم آن پایان‌نگر پنجاه گز