(’Twas) on this account (that) the dog came to the Companions (of the Cave): the (outward) forms are (like) the grains, while the heart (spirit) is (like) the ant.
زین سبب آمد سوی اصحاب کلب ** هست صورتها حبوب و مور قلب
Hence Jesus goes (ascends) to the holy ones of Heaven: the cages (bodies) were diverse, (but) the young birds (spirits) were of the same kind.
زان شود عیسی سوی پاکان چرخ ** بد قفس‌ها مختلف یک جنس فرخ
This cage is visible, but the young bird in it is hidden (from sight): how should the cage be moving without a cage-carrier?2965
این قفس پیدا و آن فرخش نهان ** بی‌قفس کش کی قفس باشد روان
Oh, blessed is the eye that is ruled by reason, (the eye) that discerns the end and is wise and cool.
ای خنک چشمی که عقلستش امیر ** عاقبت‌بین باشد و حبر و قریر
Get (learn) the distinction between evil and good from reason, not from the eye that tells (only) of black and white.
فرق زشت و نغز از عقل آورید ** نی ز چشمی کز سیه گفت و سپید
The eye is beguiled by the verdure on dunghills, (but) reason says, “Put it to my touchstone.”
چشم غره شد به خضرای دمن ** عقل گوید بر محک ماش زن
The eye that sees (only) its (object of) desire is the bird's bane; reason, which sees the trap, is the bird's means of deliverance.
آفت مرغست چشم کام‌بین ** مخلص مرغست عقل دام‌بین
(But) there was another trap which reason did not perceive; hence the inspiration which beholds the unseen sped in this direction.2970
دام دیگر بد که عقلش در نیافت ** وحی غایب‌بین بدین سو زان شتافت
By reason you can recognise congener and non-congener: you ought not to run at once to (outward) forms.
جنس و ناجنس از خرد دانی شناخت ** سوی صورتها نشاید زود تاخت
My being your congener is not in respect of (outward) form: Jesus, in the form of man, was (really) homogeneous with the angels
نیست جنسیت به صورت لی و لک ** عیسی آمد در بشر جنس ملک
The celestial Bird (Gabriel) carried him up above this dark-blue fortress (vault) as the raven (carried) the frog.
برکشیدش فوق این نیلی‌حصار ** مرغ گردونی چو چغزش زاغ‌وار
Story of ‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth and his being carried off by the peris and staying among them for years, and how after (many) years he returned to his (native) town and his children, but could not endure to be parted from the peris, because he was really their congener and spiritually one with them.
قصه‌ی عبدالغوث و ربودن پریان او را و سالها میان پریان ساکن شدن او و بعد از سالها آمدن او به شهر و فرزندان خویش را باز ناشکیفتن او از آن پریان بحکم جنسیت و همدلی او با ایشان
‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth was a congener of the peri: for nine years he was flying about invisibly, like a peri.
بود عبدالغوث هم‌جنس پری ** چون پری نه سال در پنهان‌پری
His wife had offspring by another husband, and his (‘Abdu ’l-Ghawth's) orphans used to talk of his death,2975
شد زنش را نسل از شوی دگر ** وآن یتیمانش ز مرگش در سمر
Saying, “A wolf or a brigand (must have) attacked him, or (perhaps) he fell into a pit or ambush.”
که مرورا گرگ زد یا ره‌زنی ** یا فتاد اندر چهی یا مکمنی
All his children were passionately absorbed in (worldly) occupations: they never said (thought) that they had a father (who might be alive).
جمله فرزندانش در اشغال مست ** خود نگفتندی که بابایی بدست
After nine years he came (back) temporarily: he appeared and (then) disappeared again.
بعد نه سال آمد او هم عاریه ** گشت پیدا باز شد متواریه
He was the guest of his children for one month, and after that nobody saw any more of him.
یک مهی مهمان فرزندان خویش ** بود و زان پس کس ندیدش رنگ بیش
(Inward) homogeneity with the peris carried him off, just as a spear-thrust ravishes the spirit (from the body).2980
برد هم جنسی پریانش چنان ** که رباید روح را زخم سنان
Since one who is destined for Paradise is (inwardly) homogeneous with Paradise, on account of homogeneity he also becomes a worshipper of God.
چون بهشتی جنس جنت آمدست ** هم ز جنسیت شود یزدان‌پرست
Has not the Prophet said, “Know that liberality and virtue are (drooping) branches of (the trees in) Paradise (and have) come (have been let down) into this world”?
نه نبی فرمود جود و محمده ** شاخ جنت دان به دنیا آمده
Declare all loves to be homogeneous with (Divine) Love; deem all wraths to be homogeneous with (Divine) Wrath.
مهرها را جمله جنس مهر خوان ** قهرها را جمله جنس قهر دان
The reckless man gets a reckless man (as his comrade), because they are congenial in respect of their understanding.
لاابالی لا ابالی آورد ** زانک جنس هم بوند اندر خرد
The congeniality (spiritual affinity) in Idrís was (derived) from the stars: for eight years he was coming along with Saturn.2985
بود جنسیت در ادریس از نجوم ** هشت سال او با زحل بد در قدوم
He was his (Saturn's) companion in the East and in the West; (he was) his partner in conversation and familiar with his characteristics.
در مشارق در مغارب یار او ** هم‌حدیث و محرم آثار او
When after his absence (from the body) he arrived (on earth), on the earth he was always giving lessons in astronomy.
بعد غیبت چونک آورد او قدوم ** در زمین می‌گفت او درس نجوم
The stars gladly ranged themselves in ranks before him: the stars attended his lectures,
پیش او استارگان خوش صف زده ** اختران در درس او حاضر شده
So that the people (present), nobles and commons alike, would hear the voices of the stars.
آنچنان که خلق آواز نجوم ** می‌شنیدند از خصوص و از عموم
The attraction exerted by homogeneity (spiritual affinity) drew the stars down to the earth and caused them to speak plainly before him.2990
جذب جنسیت کشیده تا زمین ** اختران را پیش او کرده مبین
Each one declared its name and its circumstances and expounded to him (the science of) astronomical observation.
هر یکی نام خود و احوال خود ** باز گفته پیش او شرح رصد
What is (real) homogeneity? A species of insight whereby people gain admission into (the minds and feelings of) one another.
چیست جنسیت یکی نوع نظر ** که بدان یابند ره در هم‌دگر
When God endows you with the same insight which He has hidden in him (another person), you become his congener.
آن نظر که کرد حق در وی نهان ** چون نهد در تو تو گردی جنس آن
What draws a body (person) in any direction? Insight. How should the conscious attract the unconscious?
هر طرف چه می‌کشد تن را نظر ** بی‌خبر را کی کشاند با خبر
When He (God) implants in a man the nature of a woman, fit catamitus et coitum dat. [When He (God) implants in a man the nature of a woman, he becomes a catamite and offers (anal) intercourse.]2995
چونک اندر مرد خوی زن نهد ** او مخنث گردد و گان می‌دهد
When God implants in a woman the masculine nature, illa femina feminam cupit et cum ea rem habet. [When God implants in a woman the masculine nature, that dildo-using woman becomes a seeker of women.]
چون نهد در زن خدا خوی نری ** طالب زن گردد آن زن سعتری
When He implants in you the qualities of Gabriel, you will seek the way up to the air, like a young bird,
چون نهد در تو صفات جبرئیل ** هم‌چو فرخی بر هواجویی سبیل
Gazing exspectantly, your eye fixed upon the air, estranged from the earth and enamoured of heaven.
منتظر بنهاده دیده در هوا ** از زمین بیگانه عاشق بر سما
When He implants in you the asinine qualities, (even) if you have a hundred wings (expedients) you will fly to the stable.
چون نهد در تو صفت‌های خری ** صد پرت گر هست بر آخر پری
The mouse is not despised for its (outward) form: it becomes a helpless victim of the kite because of its villainous character.3000
از پی صورت نیامد موش خوار ** از خبیثی شد زبون موش‌خوار
It is a (greedy) food-seeker and a traitor and a lover of darkness, besotted with cheese and pistachio nuts and syrup.
طعمه‌جوی و خاین و ظلمت‌پرست ** از پنیر و فستق و دوشاب مست
When the white falcon has the nature of a mouse, it is an object of contempt to the mice and a disgrace to the wild animals.
باز اشهب را چو باشد خوی موش ** ننگ موشان باشد و عار وحوش
O son, when the nature of Hárút and Márút was changed and He (God) bestowed on them the nature of man,
خوی آن هاروت و ماروت ای پسر ** چون بگشت و دادشان خوی بشر
They fell from (the eminence of) verily, we are they that stand in rowsinto the pit at Babylon (where they remain) shackled head-foremost.
در فتادند از لنحن الصافون ** در چه بابل ببسته سرنگون
The Guarded Tablet was removed from their sight: sorcerer and ensorcelled became their tablet.3005
لوح محفوظ از نظرشان دور شد ** لوح ایشان ساحر و مسحور شد
The same arms, the same head, the same figure—(yet) a Moses is celestial (in his nature), while a Pharaoh is contemptible.
پر همان و سر همان هیکل همان ** موسیی بر عرش و فرعونی مهان
Be always in quest of the (inward) nature and consort with him whose nature is good: observe how rose-oil (otto) has received (imbibed) the nature (of the rose).
در پی خو باش و با خوش‌خو نشین ** خوپذیری روغن گل را ببین
The earth of the grave is ennobled by the (holy) man (buried there), so that the (owner of an illumined) heart lays his face and hands on his grave.
خاک گور از مرد هم یابد شرف ** تا نهد بر گور او دل روی و کف
Since the earth (of the grave) is ennobled and made fortunate by the neighbourhood of the pure body,
خاک از همسایگی جسم پاک ** چون مشرف آمد و اقبال‌ناک
Do thou too, then, say, “(First) the neighbour, then the house”: if thou hast a heart, go, seek a sweetheart.3010
پس تو هم الجار ثم الدار گو ** گر دلی داری برو دلدار جو
His dust (body) is endued with the character of his soul: it becomes a collyrium for the eyes of those who are dear (to God).
خاک او هم‌سیرت جان می‌شود ** سرمه‌ی چشم عزیزان می‌شود
Oh, many a one sleeping like dust in the grave is superior in usefulness and open-handedness to a hundred living.
ای بسا در گور خفته خاک‌وار ** به ز صد احیا به نفع و انتشار