تا که یهلک من هلک عن بینه ** تا که ینجو من نجا واستیقنه
(This Day is ordained) to the end that they who perish may perish by a clear proof, and that they who are saved and have sure knowledge thereof may be saved (by a clear proof),
تا که بازان جانب سلطان روند ** تا که زاغان سوی گورستان روند
And that the falcons may go to the Sultan and that the crows may go to the graveyard;
که استخوان و اجزاء سرگین همچو نان ** نقل زاغان آمدست اندر جهان 1880
For in this world the dessert of the crows was bones and pieces of dung like bread.
قند حکمت از کجا زاغ از کجا ** کرم سرگین از کجا باغ از کجا
How remote is the sugar of wisdom from the crow! How remote is the dung-beetle from the orchard!
نیست لایق غزو نفس و مرد غر ** نیست لایق عود و مشک و کون خر
It is not suitable for an effeminate man to go to fight against the carnal soul: aloes-wood and musk are not suitable for the arse of an ass.
چون غزا ندهد زنان را هیچ دست ** کی دهد آنک جهاد اکبرست
Since women are not at all adapted for fighting, how should they be adapted for that (fight) which is the greater holy war?
جز بنادر در تن زن رستمی ** گشته باشد خفیه همچون مریمی
A Rustam may (sometimes) have been concealed in a woman's body, as (was the case with) a Mary; (but) only seldom.
آنچنان که در تن مردان زنان ** خفیهاند و ماده از ضعف جنان 1885
Similarly, women are (sometimes) concealed in men's bodies, and they (such men) are (virtually) female because of (their) faintness of heart.
آن جهان صورت شود آن مادگی ** هر که در مردی ندید آمادگی
In that world, if any one has not found in his manhood the capacity (for spiritual combat), his feminality takes (visible) shape.
روز عدل و عدل داد در خورست ** کفش آن پا کلاه آن سرست
The Day (of Judgement) is justice, and justice consists in giving (to every one) what is proper: the shoe belongs to the foot, and the cap belongs to the head.