آن فلانی فوق آن سرکش نشست ** گر چه در صورت به پهلویش نشست
Such and such a person is (really) seated above that one who lifts up his head so haughtily, though in appearance he is seated beside him.
فوقی آن جاست از روی شرف ** جای دور از صدر باشد مستخف
The superiority of that (person's) place is in respect of (his spiritual) nobility; the place (that is) far from the (spiritual) seat of honour is held in slight regard.
سنگ و آهن زین جهت که سابق است ** در عمل فوقی این دو لایق است
Forasmuch as the stone and iron are prior in action, the superiority of these twain is proper;
و آن شرر از روی مقصودی خویش ** ز آهن و سنگ است زین رو پیش و بیش1965
But those sparks, in respect of their being the final cause, are from this point of view far in front of (superior to) the iron and stone.
سنگ و آهن اول و پایان شرر ** لیک این هر دو تنند و جان شرر
The stone and iron are first, and the sparks last; but these twain are the body, and the sparks are the soul.
آن شرر گر در زمان واپستر است ** در صفت از سنگ و آهن برتر است
If those sparks are posterior in time, (yet) in quality they are higher than the stone and iron.
در زمان شاخ از ثمر سابقتر است ** در هنر از شاخ او فایقتر است
The bough is prior to the fruit in time, (but) it (the fruit) is superior to the bough in excellence.
چون که مقصود از شجر آمد ثمر ** پس ثمر اول بود و آخر شجر
Since the fruit is the final cause of the tree, it follows that the fruit is (really) first, the tree last.
خرس چون فریاد کرد از اژدها ** شیر مردی کرد از جنگش جدا1970
When the bear cried out for help against the dragon, a valiant man removed it from the (dragon's) claws.
حیلت و مردی بهم دادند پشت ** اژدها را او بدین قوت بکشت
Cunning and courage gave support to each other: by this strength he slew the dragon.