بر صطرلابش نقوش عنکبوت ** بهر اوصاف ازل دارد ثبوت 3140
The figures (cut) on the “spider” (uppermost tablet) on his astrolabe are there for the sake of (typifying) the Eternal Attributes,
تا ز چرخ غیب وز خورشید روح ** عنکبوتش درس گوید از شروح
In order that its “spider” may give lessons in exposition of the sky of the Unseen and the sun of the Spirit.
عنکبوت و این صطرلاب رشاد ** بی‌منجم در کف عام اوفتاد
Without a (spiritual) astronomer (to explain their significance), the “spider” and this astrolabe which guides aright fall (uselessly) into the hands of the vulgar.
انبیا را داد حق تنجیم این ** غیب را چشمی بباید غیب‌بین
God bestowed (knowledge of) this (spiritual) astronomy on the prophets: for (the mysteries of) the Unseen an eye that observes the Unseen is necessary.
در چه دنیا فتادند این قرون ** عکس خود را دید هر یک چه درون
These (worldly) generations fell into the well of the present world: every one saw in the well his own reflexion.
از برون دان آنچ در چاهت نمود ** ورنه آن شیری که در چه شد فرود 3145
Know that what appears to you in the well is (really) from outside; else you are (like) the lion that plunged into the well (and was drowned).
برد خرگوشیش از ره کای فلان ** در تگ چاهست آن شیر ژیان
A hare led him astray, saying, “O such-and-such, this furious lion (thy rival) is at the bottom of the well.
در رو اندر چاه کین از وی بکش ** چون ازو غالب‌تری سر بر کنش
Go into the well and wreak vengeance on him: tear off his head, since thou art mightier than he.”
آن مقلد سخره‌ی خرگوش شد ** از خیال خویشتن پر جوش شد
That (blind) follower of authority was subjugated by the hare: he was filled with boiling (fury) by his own fancy.
او نگفت این نقش داد آب نیست ** این به جز تقلیب آن قلاب نیست
He did not say, “This image is not produced by the water: this is not (produced) by anything except the changing activity of the (Divine) Changer.”