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
We have lightly esteemed the King's word and those incomparable favours.
سهل دانستیم قول شاه را ** وان عنایت‌های بی اشباه را
Lo, we all are fallen into the moat, killed and wounded by affliction without combat.3780
نک در افتادیم در خندق همه ** کشته و خسته‌ی بلا بی ملحمه
We relied on our own intelligence and wisdom, so that this tribulation has come to pass.
تکیه بر عقل خود و فرهنگ خویش ** بودمان تا این بلا آمد به پیش
We regarded ourselves as being without disease and emancipated (from fear of death), just as one suffering from phthisis regards himself.
بی‌مرض دیدیم خویش و بی ز رق ** آنچنان که خویش را بیمار دق
Now, after we have been made prisoners and a prey, the hidden malady has become apparent.”
علت پنهان کنون شد آشکار ** بعد از آنک بند گشتیم و شکار
The shadow (protection) of the (spiritual) Guide is better than praising God (by one's self): a single (feeling of) contentment is better than a hundred viands and trays (of food).
سایه‌ی رهبر بهست از ذکر حق ** یک قناعت به که صد لوت و طبق
A seeing eye is better than three hundred (blind men's) staves: the eye knows (can distinguish) pearls from pebbles.3785
چشم بینا بهتر از سیصد عصا ** چشم بشناسد گهر را از حصا