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این زمان این احمق یک لخت را ** آن نماید که زمان بدبخت را
- “Now” (they said) “he will show to this simpleton that which Time (Fortune) shows to the unfortunate.
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همچو پروانه شرر را نور دید ** احمقانه در فتاد از جان برید
- Like the moth, he (the lover) deemed the (fiery) sparks to be the light: foolishly he fell in and was cut off from (deprived of) life.”
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لیک شمع عشق چون آن شمع نیست ** روشن اندر روشن اندر روشنیست 3920
- But the candle of Love is not like that (external) candle: it is radiance in radiance in radiance.
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او به عکس شمعهای آتشیست ** می‌نماید آتش و جمله خوشیست
- It is the reverse of the fiery candles: it seems to be fire, while (in reality) it is all sweetness.
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صفت آن مسجد کی عاشق‌کش بود و آن عاشق مرگ‌جوی لا ابالی کی درو مهمان شد
- Description of the lover-killing mosque and of the death-seeking reckless lover who became a guest there.
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یک حکایت گوش کن ای نیک‌پی ** مسجدی بد بر کنار شهر ری
- Lend ear to a story, O well-conducted man! There was a mosque on the outskirts of the city of Rayy.
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هیچ کس در وی نخفتی شب ز بیم ** که نه فرزندش شدی آن شب یتیم
- No one ever slept the night there but on the same night (he died) from terror (and) his children became orphans.
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بس که اندر وی غریب عور رفت ** صبحدم چون اختران در گور رفت
- Many the naked (destitute) stranger that went into it (at nightfall) and went at dawn, like the stars, into the grave.
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خویشتن را نیک ازین آگاه کن ** صبح آمد خواب را کوتاه کن 3925
- Make thyself very attentive to this (tale)! The dawn is come, cut short thy slumber!
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هر کسی گفتی که پریانند تند ** اندرو مهمان کشان با تیغ کند
- Every one used to say that in it there were fierce Jinnís who killed the guests with blunt swords.
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آن دگر گفتی که سحرست و طلسم ** کین رصد باشد عدو جان و خصم
- Another would say, “It is the magic and talisman, for this enchantment is the foe and enemy of life.”