One mote is flying to the left, and another to the right in search.
آن یکی ذره همی پرد به چپ ** وآن دگر سوی یمین اندر طلب
One mote (flies) up and another down: in their inclination (movement) behold actual strife.
ذره‌ای بالا و آن دیگر نگون ** جنگ فعلیشان ببین اندر رکون
The actual strife is the result of the hidden strife: know that that discord springs from this discord.
جنگ فعلی هست از جنگ نهان ** زین تخالف آن تخالف را بدان
The strife of the mote that has been effaced in the sun is beyond description and calculation.40
ذره‌ای کان محو شد در آفتاب ** جنگ او بیرون شد از وصف و حساب
Since the (individual) soul and breath have been effaced from the mote, its strife now is only the strife of the sun,
چون ز ذره محو شد نفس و نفس ** جنگش اکنون جنگ خورشیدست بس
(Its) natural movement and rest have gone from it—by what (means)? By means of Verily unto Him we are returning.
رفت از وی جنبش طبع و سکون ** از چه از انا الیه راجعون
We have returned from ourselves to Thy sea and have sucked from the source that suckled us.
ما به بحر تو ز خود راجع شدیم ** وز رضاع اصل مسترضع شدیم
O thou who, on account of the ghoul, hast remained in the derivatives (unessentials) of the Way, do not boast of (possessing) the fundamental principles (thereof), O unprincipled man.
در فروغ راه ای مانده ز غول ** لاف کم زن از اصول ای بی‌اصول
Our war and our peace is in the light of the Essence: ’tis not from us, ’tis between the two fingers (of God).45
جنگ ما و صلح ما در نور عین ** نیست از ما هست بین اصبعین
War of nature, war of action, war of speech—there is a terrible conflict amongst the parts (of the universe).
جنگ طبعی جنگ فعلی جنگ قول ** در میان جزوها حربیست هول
This world is maintained by means of this war: consider the elements, in order that it (the difficulty) may be solved.
این جهان زن جنگ قایم می‌بود ** در عناصر در نگر تا حل شود
The four elements are four strong pillars by which the roof of the present world is (kept) upright.
چار عنصر چار استون قویست ** که بدیشان سقف دنیا مستویست
Each pillar is a destroyer of the other: the pillar (known as) water is a destroyer of the flames (of fire).
هر ستونی اشکننده‌ی آن دگر ** استن آب اشکننده‌ی آن شرر
Hence the edifice of creation is (based) upon contraries; consequently we are at war for weal and woe.50
پس بنای خلق بر اضداد بود ** لاجرم ما جنگییم از ضر و سود
My states (of mind and body) are mutually opposed: each one is mutually opposite in its effect.
هست احوالم خلاف همدگر ** هر یکی با هم مخالف در اثر
Since I am incessantly waylaying (struggling with) myself, how should I act in harmony with another?
چونک هر دم راه خود را می‌زنم ** با دگر کس سازگاری چون کنم
Behold the surging armies of my “states,” each at war and strife with another.
موج لشکرهای احوالم ببین ** هر یکی با دیگری در جنگ و کین
Contemplate the same grievous war in thyself: why, then, art thou engaged in warring with others?
می‌نگر در خود چنین جنگ گران ** پس چه مشغولی به جنگ دیگران
Or (is it because thou hast no means of escape) unless God shall redeem thee from this war and bring thee into the unicoloured world of peace?55
یا مگر زین جنگ حقت وا خرد ** در جهان صلح یک رنگت برد
That world is naught but everlasting and flourishing, because it is not composed of contraries.
آن جهان جز باقی و آباد نیست ** زانک آن ترکیب از اضداد نیست
This reciprocal destruction is inflicted by (every) contrary on its contrary: when there is no contrary, there is naught but everlastingness.
این تفانی از ضد آید ضد را ** چون نباشد ضد نبود جز بقا
He (God) who hath no like banished contraries from Paradise, saying, “Neither sun nor its contrary, intense cold, shall be there.”
نفی ضد کرد از بهشت آن بی‌نظیر ** که نباشد شمس و ضدش زمهریر
Colourlessness is the origin of colours, peaces are the origins of wars.
هست بی‌رنگی اصول رنگها ** صلحها باشد اصول جنگها
That world is the origin of this dolorous abode, union is the origin of every parting and separation.60
آن جهانست اصل این پرغم وثاق ** وصل باشد اصل هر هجر و فراق
Wherefore, sire, are we thus in opposition, and wherefore does unity give birth to these numbers?
این مخالف از چه‌ایم ای خواجه ما ** واز چه زاید وحدت این اعداد را