آن به آید که شوم زشت و کریه ** تا بوم آمن درین کهسار و تیه
’Tis better I should be ugly and hideous, that I may be safe amidst these mountains and deserts.
این سلاح عجب من شد ای فتی ** عجب آرد معجبان را صد بلا
These (feathers) are the weapons of my pride, O noble sir: pride brings a hundred afflictions on the proud.
بیان آنک هنرها و زیرکیها و مال دنیا هم‌چون پرهای طاوس عدو جانست
Explaining that accomplishments and intellectual abilities and worldly wealth are enemies to (spiritual) life, like the peacock's feathers.
پس هنر آمد هلاکت خام را ** کز پی دانه نبیند دام را
Accomplishments, then, are a destruction to the (spiritually) ignorant man, for in his pursuit of the bait he does not see the trap.
اختیار آن را نکو باشد که او ** مالک خود باشد اندر اتقوا
Free-will is good for him (alone) who is master of himself in (respect of obeying the command) ‘Fear ye (God).’
چون نباشد حفظ و تقوی زینهار ** دور کن آلت بینداز اختیار 650
When there is no safeguarding (of one's self) and piety, beware, put far (from thee) the instrument (that serves as a means to sin): drop free-will.
جلوه‌گاه و اختیارم آن پرست ** بر کنم پر را که در قصد سرست
Those feathers are the object of my display (pride) and freewill: I will tear out the feathers, for they are in quest of my head.
نیست انگارد پر خود را صبور ** تا پرش در نفکند در شر و شور
The self-restrained man deems his feathers to be naught, in order that his feathers may not cast him into calamity and bale.
پس زیانش نیست پر گو بر مکن ** گر رسد تیری به پیش آرد مجن
Therefore his feathers are no harm to him: let him not tear them out, (for) if an arrow (of temptation) come (against him) he will present the shield (of self-restraint).
لیک بر من پر زیبا دشمنیست ** چونک از جلوه‌گری صبریم نیست
But to me my beauteous feathers are an enemy, since I cannot restrain myself from making a display.
گر بدی صبر و حفاظم راه‌بر ** بر فزودی ز اختیارم کر و فر 655
If self-restraint and safeguarding had been my guide, my (spiritual) conquest would have been increased by (the exercise of) free-will;