That you lick the dust and the wall of the pure (elect) is better (for you) than the vulgar and their vines and rose-gardens.
خاک پاکان لیسی و دیوارشان ** بهتر از عام و رز و گلزارشان
That you become a slave to a man of enlightened heart is better (for you) than that you should walk upon the crown of the head of kings.640
بندهی یک مرد روشندل شوی ** به که بر فرق سر شاهان روی
From the kings of earth you will get nothing but the (empty) noise of a drum, O courier of (many) roads.
از ملوک خاک جز بانگ دهل ** تو نخواهی یافت ای پیک سبل
Even the townsmen are brigands in comparison with the Spirit. Who is the countryman? The fool that is without spiritual gifts.
شهریان خود رهزنان نسبت بروح ** روستایی کیست گیج و بی فتوح
This is what is deserved by him who, (when) the cry of a ghoul came to him, without rational foresight chose to move (towards the ghoul).
این سزای آنک بی تدبیر عقل ** بانگ غولی آمدش بگزید نقل
When repentance has gone from the (core of the) heart to the pericardium after that it is of no use to acknowledge (one's sin).
چون پشیمانی ز دل شد تا شغاف ** زان سپس سودی ندارد اعتراف
(With) the bow and arrow in his hand, he (was) seeking the wolf all night to and fro.645
آن کمان و تیر اندر دست او ** گرگ را جویان همه شب سو بسو
The wolf, in sooth, was given power over him, like sparks of fire: (he was) seeking the wolf (outside), and (was) unaware of the wolf (within himself).
گرگ بر وی خود مسلط چون شرر ** گرگ جویان و ز گرگ او بیخبر
Every gnat, every flea, had become as a wolf and inflicted a wound upon them in that ruined place.
هر پشه هر کیک چون گرگی شده ** اندر آن ویرانهشان زخمی زده
There was no opportunity even of driving away those gnats, because of (their) dread of an attack by the contumacious wolf,
فرصت آن پشه راندن هم نبود ** از نهیب حملهی گرگ عنود