O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?520
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشمبسته در خراس
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندمدانه گیر
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.525
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر میستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست