But you are a reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow you to go crookedly (play false).”
طبع خواهد تا کشد از خصم کین ** عقل بر نفس است بند آهنین
The (carnal) nature desires to take revenge on its adversary: the reason is an iron chain upon the flesh.
آید و منعش کند وا داردش ** عقل چون شحنه‌ست در نیک و بدش1985
It comes and prevents it (the flesh) and restrains it: the reason is like a police-inspector for it in its good and evil (actions).
عقل ایمانی چو شحنه‌ی عادلست ** پاسبان و حاکم شهر دلست
The reason that is allied to Faith is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian and magistrate of the city of the heart.
هم‌چو گربه باشد او بیدارهوش ** دزد در سوراخ ماند هم‌چو موش
It is mentally alert like a cat: the thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
در هر آنجا که برآرد موش دست ** نیست گربه یا که نقش گربه است
Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
گربه‌ی چه شیر شیرافکن بود ** عقل ایمانی که اندر تن بود
What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان1990
Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.