A piece of iron that became a mirror of the Unseen—all the forms (of the Unseen) would be shot into it.
آهنی که آیینه غیبی بدی ** جمله صورتها درو مرسل شدی
(But) thou madest (thy heart) dark and didst let the rust into thy nature: this is (the inner meaning of) they work evil on the earth.
تیره کردی زنگ دادی در نهاد ** این بود یسعون فی الارض الفساد
So hast thou done till now: now do it not. Thou hast made the water turbid: do not make it more (so).2480
تاکنون کردی چنین اکنون مکن ** تیره کردی آب را افزون مکن
Do not stir it up (befoul it): let this water become clear, and (then) behold the moon and stars circling therein.
بر مشوران تا شود این آب صاف ** واندرو بین ماه و اختر در طواف
For man is like the water of the river: when it becomes turbid, thou canst not see its bottom.
زانک مردم هست همچون آب جو ** چون شود تیره نبینی قعر او
The bottom of the river is full of jewels and full of pearls: take heed, do not make (the water) turbid, for it is (originally) pure and free (from pollution).
قعر جو پر گوهرست و پر ز در ** هین مکن تیره که هست او صاف حر
The spirit of man resembles air: when it (air) is mixed with dust, it veils the sky,
جان مردم هست مانند هوا ** چون بگرد آمیخت شد پردهی سما
And prevents (the eye) from seeing the sun; (but) when its dust is gone, it becomes pure and undefiled.2485
مانع آید او ز دید آفتاب ** چونک گردش رفت شد صافی و ناب
Notwithstanding thy complete darkness, God was showing visions unto thee, that thou might’st wend the way of deliverance.
با کمال تیرگی حق واقعات ** مینمودت تا روی راه نجات
How Moses, on whom be peace, declared (by inspiration) from the Unseen the secret thoughts and visions of Pharaoh, in order that he might truly believe in the omniscience of God or (at least) hold that opinion.
باز گفتن موسی علیهالسلام اسرار فرعون را و واقعات او را ظهر الغیب تابخبیری حق ایمان آورد یا گمان برد
From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,
ز آهن تیره بقدرت مینمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود
In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.
تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همیدیدی و بتر میشدی
He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;
نقشهای زشت خوابت مینمود ** میرمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود
Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]2490
همچو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید
Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.
که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس
Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’
این حدث بر روی زشتت میکنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی
At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;
گاه میدیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته
Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;
گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده
Now (in thy dream thou wert) upside down in the midst of a latrine; now sunk in a fierce blood-dyed torrent;2495
Perchance, by the effect of the river of honey, this poison of hatred may be turned into honey in my body;
بوک از تاثیر جوی انگبین ** شهد گردد در تنم این زهر کین
Or by the reflexion of the river of that pure milk, (my) captive intelligence may be nourished for a moment;
یا ز عکس جوی آن پاکیزه شیر ** پرورش یابد دمی عقل اسیر
Or perchance, by the reflexion of those rivers of wine, I may be intoxicated and obtain a scent of the delight of (obedience to) the (Divine) command;
یا بود کز عکس آن جوهای خمر ** مست گردم بو برم از ذوق امر
Or perchance, by the favour of those rivers of water, my barren devastated body may gain refreshment—2520
یا بود کز لطف آن جوهای آب ** تازگی یابد تن شورهی خراب
Some verdure may appear on my barren soil, my thorn-brake may become the Garden of (everlasting) abode;
شورهام را سبزهای پیدا شود ** خارزارم جنت ماوی شود
Perchance, by the reflexion of Paradise and the four rivers, my spirit, through God's befriending (it), may become a seeker of the Friend,
بوک از عکس بهشت و چار جو ** جان شود از یاری حق یارجو
In the same fashion as from the reflexion of Hell I have become fire and am steeped in the wrath of God.
آنچنان که از عکس دوزخ گشتهام ** آتش و در قهر حق آغشتهام
At one moment, from the reflexion of the snake of Hell I have become (engaged in) dropping poison, like a snake, on those who shall dwell in Paradise;
گه ز عکس مار دوزخ همچو مار ** گشتهام بر اهل جنت زهربار
At another time, from the reflexion of the boiling of the hot water (of Hell), the water of my oppression has made the people (like) rotten bones.2525
گه ز عکس جوشش آب حمیم ** آب ظلمم کرده خلقان را رمیم
From the reflexion of the zamharír (intense cold of Hell) I am (as) the zamharír; or from the reflexion of the sa‘ír (flames of Hell) I am as the sa‘ír.
من ز عکس زمهریرم زمهریر ** یا ز عکس آن سعیرم چون سعیر
I am now the Hell of the poor and oppressed: woe to him whom I suddenly find subject (to me)!”