بحر کف پیش آرد و سدی کند ** جر کند و ز بعد جر مدی کند195
The sea casts foam in front (of it) and makes a barrier: it draws back and after drawing back flows in (again).
این زمان بشنو چه مانع شد مگر ** مستمع را رفت دل جای دگر
Hear what has interfered (hindered my exposition) at the present time: methinks the hearer's mind has wandered elsewhere.
خاطرش شد سوی صوفی قنق ** اندر آن سودا فرو شد تا عنق
His thoughts have turned to the Súfí guest: he is sunk up to the neck (wholly absorbed) in that business.
لازم آمد باز رفتن زین مقال ** سوی آن افسانه بهر وصف حال
(Therefore) it behoves me to go back from this discourse to that story in order to describe what happened (to him).
صوفی آن صورت مپندار ای عزیز ** همچو طفلان تا کی از جوز و مویز
O dear friend, do not fancy the Súfí is the (external) form (which you behold): how long, like children, (will you be content) with walnuts and raisins?
جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر ** گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر200
Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;
ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق ** بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق
And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).
بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را ** لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را
Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.
BASLIK YOK
How the people of the caravan supposed the Súfí's beast was ill.
حلقهی آن صوفیان مستفید ** چون که در وجد و طرب آخر رسید
When at last (the meditation of) that circle of Súfís who were seeking (spiritual) profit came to an end (culminated) in ecstasy and enthusiasm,
خوان بیاوردند بهر میهمان ** از بهیمه یاد آورد آن زمان
They brought dishes of food for the guest, and he then bethought him of his beast.