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
What a (wondrous) collyrium is that which God applies (to the spiritual eye), so that the spirit discerns the truth behind a hundred curtains!
آن چه سرمهست آنک یزدان میکشد ** کز پس صد پرده بیند جان رشد
Since the Chief's (the Prophet's) eye was ever fixed on the end, by reason of (seeing with) that eye he called the world a carcase.3475
چشم مهتر چون به آخر بود جفت ** پس بدان دیده جهان را جیفه گفت
On hearing only this single (word of) blame from him (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk), the love (that was) in the king's heart for the horse became chilled.
زین یکی ذمش که بشنود او وحسپ ** پس فسرد اندر دل شه مهر اسپ
He abandoned his own eye and preferred his (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk's) eye: he abandoned his own intelligence and hearkened to his (the other's) words.
چشم خود بگذاشت و چشم او گزید ** هوش خود بگذاشت و قول او شنید
This (speech of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) was (only) the pretext, and (in reality) at (his) entreaty the unique Judge caused it (the horse) to be cold (despicable) in the king's heart.
این بهانه بود و آن دیان فرد ** از نیاز آن در دل شه سرد کرد
He (God) shut the door on its beauty (made its beauty invisible) to the eye (of the king): those words (of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) intervened (between the king's eye and the horse) like the sound of the door.
در ببست از حسن او پیش بصر ** آن سخن بد در میان چون بانگ در
He (God) made that cryptic saying a veil over the king's eye, a veil through which the moon appears to be black.3480
پرده کرد آن نکته را بر چشم شه ** که از آن پرده نماید مه سیه
Pure (transcendent) is the Builder who in the unseen world constructs castles of speech and beguiling talk.
پاک بنایی که بر سازد حصون ** در جهان غیب از گفت و فسون
Know that speech is the sound of the door (coming) from the palace of mystery: consider whether it is the sound of opening or shutting.
بانگ در دان گفت را از قصر راز ** تا که بانگ وا شدست این یا فراز
The sound of the door is perceptible, but the door (itself) is beyond perception: ye see (are aware of) this sound, but the door ye see not.
بانگ در محسوس و در از حس برون ** تبصرون این بانگ و در لا تبصرون
When the harp of wisdom breaks into melody, (bethink yourself) what door of the Garden of Paradise has been opened.
چنگ حکمت چونک خوشآواز شد ** تا چه در از روض جنت باز شد
When the sound of evil speech becomes loud, (bethink yourself) what door of Hell is being opened.3485
بانگ گفت بد چو دروا میشود ** از سقر تا خود چه در وا میشود
Since you are far from its door, hearken to the sound of the door: oh, blest is he whose eye has been opened (so that he can recognise the wicked).
بانگ در بشنو چو دوری از درش ** ای خنک او را که وا شد منظرش
When you are aware of doing a good action, you obtain a (feeling of spiritual) life and joy;
چون تو میبینی که نیکی میکنی ** بر حیات و راحتی بر میزنی
And when a fault and evil deed issues (from you), that (feeling of) life and rapture disappears.
چونک تقصیر و فسادی میرود ** آن حیات و ذوق پنهان میشود
Do not abandon your own eye (judgement) from regard for the vile, for these vultures will lead you to the carcase.
دید خود مگذار از دید خسان ** که به مردارت کشند این کرکسان
You close your narcissus-like eye, saying, “What (is it)? Hey, sir, take my stick (and show me the way), for I am blind”;3490
چشم چون نرگس فروبندی که چی ** هین عصاام کش که کورم ای اچی
But if you would only look, (you would see that) the guide whom you have chosen for the journey is (even) blinder than you.
وان عصاکش که گزیدی در سفر ** خود ببینی باشد از تو کورتر
Grasp in a blind man's fashion the rope of Allah: do not cling to aught but the Divine commandments and prohibitions.
دست کورانه به حبل الله زن ** جز بر امر و نهی یزدانی متن
What is the rope of Allah? To renounce self-will, for this self-will was a roaring wind (of destruction) to (the people of) ‘Ád.
چیست حبلالله رها کردن هوا ** کین هوا شد صرصری مر عاد را
’Tis from self-will that folk are sitting in gaol, ’tis from self-will that the (trapped) bird's wings are tied.
خلق در زندان نشسته از هواست ** مرغ را پرها ببسته از هواست