دوستان در قصهی ذو النون شدند ** سوی زندان و در آن رایی زدند 1430
The friends went to the prison (to inquire) about the story of Dhu ’l-Nún, and expressed an opinion concerning it,
کاین مگر قاصد کند یا حکمتی است ** او در این دین قبلهای و آیتی است
Saying, “Perchance he does this purposely, or there is some (deep) wisdom (in it): he is an exemplar and a shining light in this religion.
دور دور از عقل چون دریای او ** تا جنون باشد سفه فرمای او
Far, far be it from his sea-like (profound) intelligence that madness should prompt him to folly!
حاش لله از کمال جاه او ** کابر بیماری بپوشد ماه او
God forbid, in view of the perfection of his (spiritual) attainments, that the cloud of sickness should cover his moon!
او ز شر عامه اندر خانه شد ** او ز ننگ عاقلان دیوانه شد
He has gone into the house (and taken refuge) from the wickedness of the vulgar: he has become mad on account of the infamy of the sane.
او ز عار عقل کند تن پرست ** قاصدا رفته ست و دیوانه شده ست 1435
From (feeling) the disgrace of the dull body-serving intellect, he has purposely gone and become mad,
که ببندیدم قوی و ز ساز گاو ** بر سر و پشتم بزن وین را مکاو
Saying, ‘Bind me fast and with the tail of a cow smite me on head and back, and do not dispute this (matter),
تا ز زخم لخت یابم من حیات ** چون قتیل از گاو موسی ای ثقات
That from the stroke of the part (of the cow) I may gain life, as the murdered man (gained life) from the cow of Moses, O trusty ones;
تا ز زخم لخت گاوی خوش شوم ** همچو کشتهی گاو موسی گش شوم
That I may be made happy by the stroke of a part of the cow; (that I may) become well (whole), as (in the case of) the murdered man and the cow of Moses’.”
زنده شد کشته ز زخم دم گاو ** همچو مس از کیمیا شد زر ساو
The murdered man was revived by the stroke of the cow's tail: he became pure gold (in spirit), even as copper (is transmuted) by the elixir.