چون نهد در تو صفت‌های خری ** صد پرت گر هست بر آخر پری
When He implants in you the asinine qualities, (even) if you have a hundred wings (expedients) you will fly to the stable.
از پی صورت نیامد موش خوار ** از خبیثی شد زبون موش‌خوار 3000
The mouse is not despised for its (outward) form: it becomes a helpless victim of the kite because of its villainous character.
طعمه‌جوی و خاین و ظلمت‌پرست ** از پنیر و فستق و دوشاب مست
It is a (greedy) food-seeker and a traitor and a lover of darkness, besotted with cheese and pistachio nuts and syrup.
باز اشهب را چو باشد خوی موش ** ننگ موشان باشد و عار وحوش
When the white falcon has the nature of a mouse, it is an object of contempt to the mice and a disgrace to the wild animals.
خوی آن هاروت و ماروت ای پسر ** چون بگشت و دادشان خوی بشر
O son, when the nature of Hárút and Márút was changed and He (God) bestowed on them the nature of man,
در فتادند از لنحن الصافون ** در چه بابل ببسته سرنگون
They fell from (the eminence of) verily, we are they that stand in rowsinto the pit at Babylon (where they remain) shackled head-foremost.
لوح محفوظ از نظرشان دور شد ** لوح ایشان ساحر و مسحور شد 3005
The Guarded Tablet was removed from their sight: sorcerer and ensorcelled became their tablet.
پر همان و سر همان هیکل همان ** موسیی بر عرش و فرعونی مهان
The same arms, the same head, the same figure—(yet) a Moses is celestial (in his nature), while a Pharaoh is contemptible.
در پی خو باش و با خوش‌خو نشین ** خوپذیری روغن گل را ببین
Be always in quest of the (inward) nature and consort with him whose nature is good: observe how rose-oil (otto) has received (imbibed) the nature (of the rose).
خاک گور از مرد هم یابد شرف ** تا نهد بر گور او دل روی و کف
The earth of the grave is ennobled by the (holy) man (buried there), so that the (owner of an illumined) heart lays his face and hands on his grave.