- (Supposing) that maybe in (the hour of) dread their arm had skilfully shot an arrow at the target.
- که مگر بازوی ایشان در حذر ** بر هدف انداخت تیری از هنر
- Foxes, in the chase, are saved by their legs, but the foxes inconsiderately deem that (safety to proceed) from their tails.
- پا رهاند روبهان را در شکار ** و آن زدم دانند روباهان غرار
- (Hence) they play fondly with their tails, thinking, “These save our lives in the ambuscade (of calamity).”
- عشقها با دم خود بازند کین ** میرهاند جان ما را در کمین
- O fox, preserve your legs from (being broken by) brickbats; when you have no legs, what use is your tail, O bold-eyed one?
- روبها پا را نگه دار از کلوخ ** پا چو نبود دم چه سود ای چشمشوخ
- We are like foxes, and the noble (saints) are (as) our legs: they save us from a hundred kinds of vengeance. 2230
- ما چو روباهان و پای ما کرام ** میرهاندمان ز صدگون انتقام
- Our subtle contrivance is as our tails: we play fondly with our tails, left and right.
- حیلهی باریک ما چون دم ماست ** عشقها بازیم با دم چپ و راست
- We wag our tails in argumentation and cunning, in order that Zayd and Bakr may remain amazed at us.
- دم بجنبانیم ز استدلال و مکر ** تا که حیران ماند از ما زید و بکر
- We have sought to excite the amazement of the people; we have eagerly grasped at Divinity,
- طالب حیرانی خلقان شدیم ** دست طمع اندر الوهیت زدیم
- That by means of guile we may gain possession of (the people's) hearts; we do not see that we are in a ditch.
- تا بافسون مالک دلها شویم ** این نمیبینیم ما کاندر گویم
- You are in the ditch and in the pit, O scoundrel: keep your hands off the moustache of others! 2235
- در گوی و در چهی ای قلتبان ** دست وا دار از سبال دیگران
- When you arrive at a fair and beauteous garden, after that lay hold of the people's skirts and lead them.
- چون به بستانی رسی زیبا و خوش ** بعد از آن دامان خلقان گیر و کش
- O you who dwell in the prison of the four (elements) and the five (senses) and the six (directions), lead others also to (such) a goodly place!
- ای مقیم حبس چار و پنج و شش ** نغز جایی دیگران را هم بکش
- O you who, like an ass-servant, are the comrade of the ass's rump, you have found a (fine) spot to kiss: take us (to it)!
- ای چو خربنده حریف کون خر ** بوسه گاهی یافتی ما را ببر
- Since (true) servitude to the Beloved has not been granted you, whence has arisen in you the wish for sovereignty?
- چون ندادت بندگی دوست دست ** میل شاهی از کجاات خاستست
- In your desire that they should say to you “Bravo!” you have tied a bowstring on the neck of your soul. 2240
- در هوای آنک گویندت زهی ** بستهای در گردن جانت زهی
- O fox, abandon this tail, (which is) contrivance, and devote your heart to the lords of the heart (the saints).
- روبها این دم حیلت را بهل ** وقف کن دل بر خداوندان دل
- (Whilst you are) under the protection of the lion, roast-meat will not fail;O fox, do not hasten towards the carcase.
- در پناه شیر کم ناید کباب ** روبها تو سوی جیفه کم شتاب
- O heart, thou wilt be regarded (with favour) by God at the moment when, like a part, thou goest towards thy Whole.
- تو دلا منظور حق آنگه شوی ** که چو جزوی سوی کل خود روی
- God saith, “Our regard is (bestowed) on the heart; it is not (bestowed) on the external form, which is (only) water and earth.”
- حق همیگوید نظرمان در دلست ** نیست بر صورت که آن آب و گلست
- You say, “I too have a heart”; (but) the heart is above the empyrean, it is not below. 2245
- تو همیگویی مرا دل نیز هست ** دل فراز عرش باشد نه به پست
- Certainly in the dark earth also there is water, but ’tis not proper for you to wash your hands with that water,
- در گل تیره یقین هم آب هست ** لیک زان آبت نشاید آبدست
- Because, though it is water, it is overcome by the earth. Do not, then, say of your heart, “This too is a heart.”
- زانک گر آبست مغلوب گلست ** پس دل خود را مگو کین هم دلست
- The heart that is higher than the heavens is the heart of the saint or the prophet.
- آن دلی کز آسمانها برترست ** آن دل ابدال یا پیغامبرست
- That (heart) has become cleansed of earth and purified; it has come to (full) growth and has been made complete.
- پاک گشته آن ز گل صافی شده ** در فزونی آمده وافی شده
- It has taken leave of earth and has come to the Sea; it has escaped from the prison of earth and has become of the Sea. 2250
- ترک گل کرده سوی بحر آمده ** رسته از زندان گل بحری شده