We are much addicted to subtle discussions, we are exceedingly fond of solving problems;
مولعیم اندر سخنهای دقیق ** در گرهها باز کردن ما عشیق
And to the end that we may tie knots and (then) undo them, (we are) making many rules for (posing and stating) the difficulty and for answering (the questions raised by it),
تا گره بندیم و بگشاییم ما ** در شکال و در جواب آیین فزا
Like a bird which should undo the fastenings of a snare, and tie (them together) at times, in order that it might become perfect in skill:3735
همچو مرغی کاو گشاید بند دام ** گاه بندد تا شود در فن تمام
It is deprived of the open country and meadowland, its life is spent in dealing with knots;
او بود محروم از صحرا و مرج ** عمر او اندر گره کاری است خرج
And even (then) the snare is nowise subdued by it, but its wings are always getting broken.
خود زبون او نگردد هیچ دام ** لیک پرش در شکست افتد مدام
Do not struggle with knots, lest thy wings and feathers be snapped asunder one by one through this vain display (of effort) on thy part.
با گره کم کوش تا بال و پرت ** نگسلد یک یک از این کر و فرت
Myriads of birds have had their wings broken, and have not stopped that calamitous ambuscade (from doing its work).
صد هزاران مرغ پرهاشان شکست ** و آن کمین گاه عوارض را نبست
Read in the Qur’án (concerning) their state, O covetous one: —They explored (and wandered) in them (the lands of the earth); mark (the words), Was there any refuge?3740
حال ایشان از نبی خوان ای حریص ** نقبوا فیها ببین هل من محیص
The difficulty over angúr and ‘inab was not solved by the contest between the Turk, the Greek, and the Arab.
از نزاع ترک و رومی و عرب ** حل نشد اشکال انگور و عنب
Until the spiritual Solomon, skilled in tongues, shall intervene, this duality will not disappear.
تا سلیمان لسین معنوی ** در نیاید بر نخیزد این دوی
O all ye wrangling birds, hearken, like the falcon, to this falcon-drum of the King.
جمله مرغان منازع بازوار ** بشنوید این طبل باز شهریار
Hark, from every quarter set out with joy, (flying away) from your diversity towards oneness.
ز اختلاف خویش سوی اتحاد ** هین ز هر جانب روان گردید شاد
Wheresoever ye be, turn your faces towards it: this is the thing which He hath not forbidden unto you (at any time).3745
حیث ما کنتم فولوا وجهکم ** نحوه هذا الذی لم ینهکم
Blind birds are we and very inept, in that we have not once recognised that Solomon.
کور مرغانیم و بس ناساختیم ** کان سلیمان را دمی نشناختیم
Like the owls, we have become hostile to the falcons: consequently we are left behind (to dwell) in the place of ruin.
Make thyself familiar with Solomon, O reprobate bat, in order that thou mayst not remain in darkness for ever.
با سلیمان خو کن ای خفاش رد ** تا که در ظلمت نمانی تا ابد
When thou goest one ell's length in that direction, like the ell thou wilt become the standard of measurement;
یک گزی ره که بدان سو میروی ** همچو گز قطب مساحت میشوی
And (even by) thy hopping lamely and limply in that direction, thou wilt be freed from all lameness and limpness.3765
و انکه لنگ و لوک آن سو میجهی ** از همه لنگی و لوکی میرهی
The story of the ducklings which were fostered by a domestic fowl.
قصهی بط بچگان که مرغ خانگی پروردشان
Thou art the offspring of a duck, though a domestic fowl has fostered thee as a nurse beneath her wing.
تخم بطی گر چه مرغ خانهات ** کرد زیر پر چو دایه تربیت
Thy mother was the duck of that Sea; thy nurse was of the earth and devoted to the dry land.
مادر تو بط آن دریا بدهست ** دایهات خاکی بد و خشکی پرست
The desire which is in thy heart for the Sea—thy soul hath that nature (instinct) from thy mother.
میل دریا که دل تو اندر است ** آن طبیعت جانت را از مادر است
The desire thou hast for the dry land is from this nurse. Leave the nurse, for she is an evil counsellor.
میل خشکی مر ترا زین دایه است ** دایه را بگذار کاو بد رایه است
Leave the nurse on the dry land, and press on: come into the Sea of spiritual reality, like the ducks.3770
دایه را بگذار در خشک و بران ** اندر آن در بحر معنی چون بطان
(Even) if thy mother should bid thee be afraid of the water, fear not thou, but push speedily into the Sea.
گر ترا مادر بترساند ز آب ** تو مترس و سوی دریا ران شتاب
Thou art a duck: thou art one that lives (both) on dry and wet; thou art not one like the domestic fowl, whose house is ill-smelling.
تو بطی بر خشک و بر تر زندهای ** نی چو مرغ خانه خانه کندهای
Thou art a king in virtue of (the text), We have ennobled the sons of Adam: thou settest foot both on the dry land and on the Sea.
تو ز کرمنا بنی آدم شهی ** هم به خشکی هم به دریا پا نهی
For in spirit thou art (what is signified by the text), We have conveyed them on the Sea: push forward (then) from (the state implied in the words), We have conveyed them on the land.
که حملناهم علی البحری به جان ** از حملناهم علی البر پیش ران
The angels have no access to the land; the animal kind, again, are ignorant of the Sea.3775
مر ملایک را سوی بر راه نیست ** جنس حیوان هم ز بحر آگاه نیست
Thou in (thy) body art an animal, and in (thy) spirit thou art of the angels, so that thou mayst walk on the earth and also in the sky;
تو به تن حیوان به جانی از ملک ** تا روی هم بر زمین هم بر فلک
So that the seer with heart divinely inspired may be, in appearance, a man like yourselves.
تا به ظاهر مثلکم باشد بشر ** با دل یوحی إلیه دیدهور
His body of dust (is here), fallen upon the earth; (but) his spirit (is) circling in this highest sphere (of Heaven).
قالب خاکی فتاده بر زمین ** روح آن گردان بر این چرخ برین
We all are water-birds, O lad: the Sea fully knows our language.
ما همه مرغابیانیم ای غلام ** بحر میداند زبان ما تمام
Therefore the Sea is (our) Solomon, and we are as the birds (familiar with Solomon): in Solomon we move unto everlasting.3780
پس سلیمان بحر آمد ما چو طیر ** در سلیمان تا ابد داریم سیر
With Solomon set thy foot in the Sea, that the water, David-like, may make a hundred rings of mail (ripples).
با سلیمان پای در دریا بنه ** تا چو داود آب سازد صد زره
That Solomon is present to all, but (His) jealousy binds (our) eyes (with spells) and enchants (us),
آن سلیمان پیش جمله حاضر است ** لیک غیرت چشم بند و ساحر است