منتظر چشمی به هم یک چشم باز ** تا که پیدا گردد آن صید به ناز
Waiting, with one eye closed and one eye open, that the delectable prey may appear.
چون بماند دیر گویند از ملال ** صید بود آن خود عجب یا خود خیال
When it tarries long, they say (from weariness), “We wonder whether it was a (real) prey or a phantom.”
مصلحت آنست تا یک ساعتی ** قوتی گیرند و زور از راحتی3730
The right course is that, for a short while, they should gather come strength and vigour by (taking) a rest.
گر نبودی شب همه خلقان ز آز ** خویشتن را سوختندی ز اهتزاز
If there were no night, on account of cupidity all people would consume themselves by the agitation (of pursuit).
از هوس وز حرص سود اندوختن ** هر کسی دادی بدن را سوختن
From desire and greed of amassing gain, every one would give his body to be consumed.
شب پدید آید چو گنج رحمتی ** تا رهند ازحرص خود یکساعتی
Night appears, like a treasure of mercy, that they may be delivered from their greed for a short while.
چونک قبضی آیدت ای راه‌رو ** آن صلاح تست آتش دل مشو
When a feeling of (spiritual) contraction comes over you, O traveller, ’tis (for) your good: do not become afire (with grief) in your heart,
زآنک در خرجی در آن بسط و گشاد ** خرج را دخلی بباید زاعتداد3735
For in that (contrary state of) expansion and delight you are spending: the expenditure (of enthusiasm) requires an income of (painful) preparation (to balance it).
گر هماره فصل تابستان بدی ** سوزش خورشید در بستان شدی
If it were always the season of summer, the blazing heat of the sun would penetrate the garden
منبتش را سوختی از بیخ و بن ** که دگر تازه نگشتی آن کهن
And burn up from root and bottom the soil whence its plants grow, so that the old (withered) ones would never again become fresh.