Again, a coffer full of the Qur’án is better than he that is (like) an empty coffer in the hand.
باز صندوقی پر از قرآن به است ** زانک صندوقی بود خالی بدست
Yet again, the coffer that is empty of (any) load is better than the coffer that is full of mice and snakes.
باز صندوقی که خالی شد ز بار ** به ز صندوقی که پر موشست و مار
The sum (of the matter is this): when a man has attained to union, the go between becomes worthless to him.1400
حاصل اندر وصل چون افتاد مرد ** گشت دلاله به پیش مرد سرد
Since you have reached the object of your search, O elegant one, the search for knowledge has now become evil.
چون به مطلوبت رسیدی ای ملیح ** شد طلب کاری علم اکنون قبیح
Since you have mounted to the roofs of Heaven, it would be futile to seek a ladder.
چون شدی بر بامهای آسمان ** سرد باشد جست وجوی نردبان
After (having attained to) felicity, the way (that leads) to felicity is worthless except for the sake of helping and teaching others.
جز برای یاری و تعلیم غیر ** سرد باشد راه خیر از بعد خیر
The shining mirror, which has become clear and perfect— ’twould be folly to apply a burnisher (to it).
آینه‌ی روشن که شد صاف و ملی ** جهل باشد بر نهادن صیقلی
Seated happily beside the Sultan (and) in favour (with him) —’twould be disgraceful to seek letter and messenger.1405
پیش سلطان خوش نشسته در قبول ** زشت باشد جستن نامه و رسول
Story of a lover's being engrossed in reading and perusing a love-letter in the presence of his beloved, and how the beloved was displeased thereat. It is shameful to seek the proof in the presence of that which is proved, and blameworthy to occupy one's self with knowledge after having attained to that which is known.
داستان مشغول شدن عاشقی به عشق‌نامه خواندن و مطالعه کردن عشق‌نامه درحضور معشوق خویش و معشوق آن را ناپسند داشتن کی طلب الدلیل عند حضور المدلول قبیح والاشتغال بالعلم بعد الوصول الی المعلوم مذموم
A certain man, (when) his beloved let (him) sit beside her, produced a letter and read it to her.
آن یکی را یار پیش خود نشاند ** نامه بیرون کرد و پیش یار خواند
In the letter were verses and praise and laud, lamentation and wretchedness and many humble entreaties.
بیتها در نامه و مدح و ثنا ** زاری و مسکینی و بس لابه‌ها