Therefore in reality you go to the formless (world), though you are unaware of that (being the) object (of your journey).
پس بمعنی سوی بیصورت شدی ** گرچه زان مقصود غافل آمدی
In truth, then, God is worshipped by all, since (all) wayfaring is for the sake of the pleasure (of which He is the source).3755
پس حقیقت حق بود معبود کل ** کز پی ذوقست سیران سبل
But some have set their face towards the tail and have lost the Head, although the Head is the principal;
لیک بعضی رو سوی دم کردهاند ** گرچه سر اصلست سر گم کردهاند
But (nevertheless) that Head is bestowing on these lost and erring ones the bounty proper to Headship by way of the tail.
لیک آن سر پیش این ضالان گم ** میدهد داد سری از راه دم
That one obtains the bounty from the Head, this one from the tail; another company (of mystics) have lost (both) foot and head.
آن ز سر مییابد آن داد این ز دم ** قوم دیگر پا و سر کردند گم
Since all has been lost, they have gained all: through dwindling away (to naught) they have sped towards the Whole.
چونک گم شد جمله جمله یافتند ** از کم آمد سوی کل بشتافتند
How in the pavilion of the fortress adorned with pictures they (the princes) saw a portrait of the daughter of the King of China and how all three lost their senses and fell into distraction and made inquiries, asking, “Whose portrait is this?”
دیدن ایشان در قصر این قلعهی ذات الصور نقش روی دختر شاه چین را و بیهوش شدن هر سه و در فتنه افتادن و تفحص کردن کی این صورت کیست
This topic is endless. The company (of three) espied a beauteous and majestic portrait.3760
این سخن پایان ندارد آن گروه ** صورتی دیدند با حسن و شکوه
The (travelling) party had seen (pictures) more beautiful than that, but at (the sight of) this one they were plunged in the deep sea,
خوبتر زان دیده بودند آن فریق ** لیک زین رفتند در بحر عمیق
Because opium came to them in this cup: the cups are visible, but the opium is unseen.
The fortress, (named) the destroyer of reason, wrought its work: it cast them, all three, into the pit of tribulation.
کرد فعل خویش قلعهی هشربا ** هر سه را انداخت در چاه بلا
Without a bow the arrow-like glances (of Love) pierce the heart—mercy, mercy, O merciless one!
تیر غمزه دوخت دل را بیکمان ** الامان و الامان ای بیامان
(Adoration of) a stone image consumed the (past) generations and kindled a fire (of love for it) in their religion and their hearts.3765
قرنها را صورت سنگین بسوخت ** آتشی در دین و دلشان بر فروخت
When it (the image) is spiritual, how (ravishing) must it be! Its fascination changes at every moment.
چونک روحانی بود خود چون بود ** فتنهاش هر لحظه دیگرگون بود
Since love of the pictured form was stabbing the hearts of the princes like a spear-point,
عشق صورت در دل شهزادگان ** چون خلش میکرد مانند سنان
Each (of them) was shedding tears, like a cloud, and gnawing his hands and crying, “Oh, alas!
اشک میبارید هر یک همچو میغ ** دست میخایید و میگفت ای دریغ
Now we see (what) the King saw at the beginning. How often did that peerless one adjure us!”
ما کنون دیدیم شه ز آغاز دید ** چندمان سوگند داد آن بیندید
The prophets have conferred a great obligation (on us) because they have made us aware of the end,3770
انبیا را حق بسیارست از آن ** که خبر کردند از پایانمان
Saying, “That which thou art sowing will produce naught but thorns; and (if) thou fly in this (worldly) direction thou wilt find there no room to fly (beyond).
کاینچ میکاری نروید جز که خار ** وین طرف پری نیابی زو مطار
Get the seed from me, that it may yield a (good) crop; fly with my wings, that the arrow may speed Yonder.
تخم از من بر که تا ریعی دهد ** با پر من پر که تیر آن سو جهد
(If) thou dost not recognise the necessity and (real) existence of that (flight to God), yet in the end thou wilt confess that it was necessary.”
تو ندانی واجبی آن و هست ** هم تو گویی آخر آن واجب بدست
He (the prophet) is thou, but not this (unreal) “thou”: (he is) that “thou” which in the end is conscious of escape (from the world of illusion).
او توست اما نه این تو آن توست ** که در آخر واقف بیرونشوست
Thy last (unreal) “thou” has come to thy first (real) “thou” to receive admonition and gifts.3775
توی آخر سوی توی اولت ** آمدست از بهر تنبیه و صلت
Thy (real) “thou” is buried in another (unreal “thou”): I am the (devoted) slave of a man who thus (truly) sees himself.
توی تو در دیگری آمد دفین ** من غلام مرد خودبینی چنین
That which the youth sees in the mirror the Elder sees beforehand in the (crude iron) brick.
آنچ در آیینه میبیند جوان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن
(The princes said), “We have transgressed the command of our King, we have rebelled against the favours of our father.
ز امر شاه خویش بیرون آمدیم ** با عنایات پدر یاغی شدیم