The heart is like unto a great house: the house of the heart hath neighbours concealed (from view):
از شکاف روزن و دیوارها ** مطلع گردند بر اسرار ما
Through the window-slit and (crevices in) the walls they observe the hidden thoughts—
از شکافی که ندارد هیچ وهم ** صاحب خانه و ندارد هیچ سهم
Through a slit whereof the owner of the house hath no conception and in which he hath no share.
از نبی بر خوان که دیو و قوم او ** می‌برند از حال انسی خفیه بو1780
Recite from the Qur’án (the verse which declares) that the Devil and his tribe secretly get scent of (become acquainted with) the (inward) state of humankind,
از رهی که انس از آن آگاه نیست ** زانک زین محسوس و زین اشباه نیست
By a way of which humankind are ignorant, because it is not of this sensible (world) or one of these semblances (phenomenal objects).
در میان ناقدان زرقی متن ** با محک ای قلب دون لافی مزن
Do not devise any fraud amongst the assayers: do not address any idle boast to the touchstone, O base spurious coin.
مر محک را ره بود در نقد و قلب ** که خدایش کرد امیر جسم و قلب
The (spiritual) touchstone hath a way to (know) the genuine and the spurious coin, for God made him the commander of (both) body and heart.
چون شیاطین با غلیظیهای خویش ** واقف‌اند از سر ما و فکر و کیش
Since the devils, notwithstanding their grossnesses, are acquainted with our inmost soul and thought and belief,
مسلکی دارند دزدیده درون ** ما ز دزدیهای ایشان سرنگون1785
(And) have a passage (means of penetrating) stealthily within, (so that) we are overthrown by their thievish practices,
دم به دم خبط و زیانی می‌کنند ** صاحب نقب و شکاف روزنند
(And since) they continually inflict a (great) derangement and damage (upon us), for they are masters of the (interior) tunnel and window-slit—
پس چرا جان‌های روشن در جهان ** بی‌خبر باشند از حال نهان
Why, then, should the illuminated spirits in the world be unaware of our hidden state?
در سرایت کمتر از دیوان شدند ** روحها که خیمه بر گردون زدند
Have the spirits that pitched their tent on Heaven become inferior to the devils in respect of permeation (the power of insinuating themselves into our hearts)?
دیو دزدانه سوی گردون رود ** از شهاب محرق او مطعون شود
The devil goes like a thief towards Heaven, and he is pierced with a burning meteor:
سرنگون از چرخ زیر افتد چنان ** که شقی در جنگ از زخم سنان1790
He falls down headlong from the sky as the wretched (infidel falls when smitten) in battle by the blow of the spear-point.
آن ز رشک روحهای دل‌پسند ** از فلکشان سرنگون می‌افکنند
That is caused by the jealousy (indignation) of the delectable spirits (the prophets and saints): (hence) they (the angels) cast them (the devils) headlong from Heaven.
تو اگر شلی و لنگ و کور و کر ** این گمان بر روحهای مه مبر
If you are palsied and lame and blind and deaf, (yet) do not hold this (bad) opinion of the great spirits.
شرم دار و لاف کم زن جان مکن ** که بسی جاسوس هست آن سوی تن
Be ashamed and do not utter idle words, do not torment yourself (in vain), for there are many spies (observing you) beyond the (ken of the) body.
دریافتن طبیبان الهی امراض دین و دل را در سیمای مرید و بیگانه و لحن گفتار او و رنگ چشم او و بی این همه نیز از راه دل کی انهم جواسیس القلوب فجالسوهم بالصدق
How the divine physicians detect diseases, religious and spiritual, in the countenance of friend or stranger and in the tones of his speech and the colour of his eyes, and even without all these (indications), by the way of the heart; for "verily, they are spies on the hearts (of men); therefore behave with sincerity when ye sit with them."
این طبیبان بدن دانش‌ورند ** بر سقام تو ز تو واقف‌ترند
These physicians of the body have knowledge (of medicine): they are more acquainted with your malady than you are,
تا ز قاروره همی‌بینند حال ** که ندانی تو از آن رو اعتلال1795
So that they perceive the state (of your health) from the urine-bottle, though you cannot know your ailment by that means,
هم ز نبض و هم ز رنگ و هم ز دم ** بو برند از تو بهر گونه سقم
And from your pulse, complexion, and breath alike they diagnose every kind of disease in you.
پس طبیبان الهی در جهان ** چون ندانند از تو بی‌گفت دهان
How, then, should the divine physicians in the world not diagnose (disease) in you without word of mouth?
هم ز نبضت هم ز چشمت هم ز رنگ ** صد سقم بینند در تو بی‌درنگ
From your pulse and your eyes and your complexion alike they immediately discern a hundred (spiritual) maladies in you.
این طبیبان نوآموزند خود ** که بدین آیاتشان حاجت بود
In sooth, ’tis (only) these newly-taught physicians that have need of these (external) signs.
کاملان از دور نامت بشنوند ** تا به قعر باد و بودت در دوند1800
The perfect (the divine physicians) will hear your name from afar and quickly penetrate into the deepest ground of your being and existence;
بلک پیش از زادن تو سالها ** دیده باشندت ترا با حالها
Nay, they will have seen you (many) years before your birth —you together with all the circumstances (connected with you).
مژده دادن ابویزید از زادن ابوالحسن خرقانی قدس الله روحهما پیش از سالها و نشان صورت او سیرت او یک به یک و نوشتن تاریخ‌نویسان آن در جهت رصد
How Abú Yazíd (Bistámí) announced the birth of Abu ’l-Hasan Kharraqání—may God sanctify the spirit of them both—(many) years before it took place, and gave a detailed description of his outer and inner characteristics; and how the chronologers wrote it down for the purpose of observation.