کهنه‌دوزان گر بدیشان صبر و حلم ** جمله نودوزان شدندی هم به علم
If the stitchers of old clothes had patience and forbearance, all of them too would become stitchers of new garments through (acquisition of) knowledge.
بس بکوشی و بخر از کلال ** هم تو گویی خویش کالعقل عقال
Thou strivest much, and at last even thou thyself sayest in weariness that the intellect is a fetter,
هم‌چو آن مرد مفلسف روز مرگ ** عقل را می‌دید بس بی‌بال و برگ
Like the philosopher (who) on the day of his death perceived his intellect to be very poor and feeble,
بی‌غرض می‌کرد آن دم اعتراف ** کز ذکاوت راندیم اسپ از گزاف3355
And in that hour disinterestedly confessed (the truth), saying, “(Impelled) by acuteness of mind we galloped in vain.
از غروری سر کشیدیم از رجال ** آشنا کردیم در بحر خیال
In delusion we drew (scornfully) away from the holy men, we swam in the sea of phantasy.”
آشنا هیچست اندر بحر روح ** نیست اینجا چاره جز کشتی نوح
In the spiritual Sea swimming is naught (of no avail): here is no resource but the ship (ark) of Noah.
این چنین فرمود این شاه رسل ** که منم کشتی درین دریای کل
Thus said that king of the prophets, “I am the ship in this universal Sea,
یا کسی کو در بصیرتهای من ** شد خلیفه‌ی راستی بر جای من
Or that person who, in respect of my (inward) clairvoyances, has become a true vicegerent in my stead.”
کشتی نوحیم در دریا که تا ** رو نگردانی ز کشتی ای فتی3360
We (saints) are the ship (ark) of Noah in the Sea, in order that thou mayst not turn thy face away from the ship, O youth.
هم‌چو کنعان سوی هر کوهی مرو ** از نبی لا عاصم الیوم شنو
Go not, like Canaan, to every mountain: hear from the Qur’án (the warning), “There is naught that will protect (thee) to-day.”