تا نگوید دزد او را کان منم ** کز تو دزدیدم که دزد پر فنم
Until the thief say to him, “’Tis I that stole from thee, for I am an artful thief,”
کی شناسد کور دزد خویش را ** چون ندارد نور چشم و آن ضیا
How should the blind man know his thief, since he hath not the eye's light and that radiance (of vision)?
چون بگوید هم بگیر او را تو سخت ** تا بگوید او علامتهای رخت
When he (the thief) speaks (and confesses), at once take tight hold of him, that he may tell the marks (descriptive) of the (stolen) goods.
پس جهاد اکبر آمد عصر دزد ** تا بگوید که چه دزدیده است مزد
The Greater Jihád (Holy War), then, consists in squeezing the thief, in order that he may tell what he has stolen and what he has carried off.
اولا دزدید کحل دیدهات ** چون ستانی باز یابی تبصرت2380
First, he has stolen your eye-salve; when you take it (from him), you will regain (your) insight.
کالهی حکمت که گم کردهی دل است ** پیش اهل دل یقین آن حاصل است
The goods of wisdom, which have been lost by (your) heart, are certainly to be found with the man of heart (the saint).
کوردل با جان و با سمع و بصر ** مینداند دزد شیطان را ز اثر
The blind of heart, notwithstanding (his possession of) life and hearing and sight, is never knowing the devilish thief by the traces (which he leaves).
ز اهل دل جو از جماد آن را مجو ** که جماد آمد خلایق پیش او
Seek (that knowledge) from the man of heart; do not seek it from the inanimate, for (all other) people are inanimate beside (in comparison with) him.
مشورت جوینده آمد نزد او ** کای اب کودک شده رازی بگو
The seeker of counsel approached him (the saint who was feigning madness), saying, “O father who hast become (as) a child, tell (me) a secret.”
گفت رو زین حلقه کاین در باز نیست ** باز گرد امروز روز راز نیست2385
He answered, “Begone from this door-ring, for this door is not open. Turn back: to-day is not the day for secrets.