In this world you see the shoes upside down: the title of “kings” is conferred on (those who are really) bondsmen.415
نعل بینی بازگونه در جهان ** تخته‌بندان را لقب گشته شهان
Many a one who deserves to mount the scaffold with a halter on his throat—a crowd (gathers) round him, crying, “Behold, an emperor!”
بس طناب اندر گلو و تاج دار ** بر وی انبوهی که اینک تاجدار
(They are) like the tombs of infidels, outwardly (resembling) the robes ofParadise, (while) within (them) is the wrath of God Almighty and Glorious.
هم‌چو گور کافران بیرون حلل ** اندرون قهر خدا عز و جل
He (the worldling) has been plastered like the tombs: the veil of self-conceit has been brought before him (drawn over him).
چون قبور آن را مجصص کرده‌اند ** پرده‌ی پندار پیش آورده‌اند
Thy miserable nature is plastered with virtues, like a palm-tree of wax without (real) leaves and fruit.
طبع مسکینت مجصص از هنر ** هم‌چو نخل موم بی‌برگ و ثمر
Explaining that every one knows the mercy of God, and every one knows the wrath of God; and all are fleeing from the wrath of God and clinging to the mercy of God; but the Most High God has concealed wraths in mercy and mercies in wrath. This is God's mystification and disguise and contrivance to the end that the discerning who see by the Light of God may be separated from those who see (only) the present and the visible; for (He created death and life) that He might try you, which of you is most righteous in his works.
در بیان آنک لطف حق را همه کس داند و قهر حق را همه کس داند و همه از قهر حق گریزانند و به لطف حق در آویزان اما حق تعالی قهرها را در لطف پنهان کرد و لطفها را در قهر پنهان کرد نعل بازگونه و تلبیس و مکرالله بود تا اهل تمیز و ینظر به نور الله از حالی‌بینان و ظاهربینان جدا شوند کی لیبلوکم ایکم احسن عملا
One dervish said to another, “Tell (me), what was thy vision of the Presence of God?”420
گفت درویشی به درویشی که تو ** چون بدیدی حضرت حق را بگو
He replied, “My vision was ineffable; but for the sake of argument I will briefly declare a parable thereof.
گفت بی‌چون دیدم اما بهر قال ** بازگویم مختصر آن را مثال
I beheld Him with a fire on His left, and on the right a stream (like) Kawthar:
دیدمش سوی چپ او آذری ** سوی دست راست جوی کوثری
On His left an exceedingly world-consuming fire, on His right hand a sweet river.
سوی چپش بس جهان‌سوز آتشی ** سوی دست راستش جوی خوشی
One party put forth their hands towards the fire, (while) another party were rejoicing and intoxicated (with desire) for that Kawthar.
سوی آن آتش گروهی برده دست ** بهر آن کوثر گروهی شاد و مست