تو مگو گندم چرا شد سوی جو ** چشم را بر خصم نه نی بر گرو 2960
Do not say, “Why did the wheat go to the barley?” Fix your eye on the holder, not on that which he holds in pawn.
مور اسود بر سر لبد سیاه ** مور پنهان دانه پیدا پیش راه
(As when) a black ant (moves along) on a black felt cloth: the ant is hidden (from view), (only) the grain is visible on its way,
عقل گوید چشم را نیکو نگر ** دانه هرگز کی رود بی دانه‌بر
(But) Reason says, “Look well to your eye: when does a grain ever go along without a grain-bearer?”
زین سبب آمد سوی اصحاب کلب ** هست صورتها حبوب و مور قلب
(’Twas) on this account (that) the dog came to the Companions (of the Cave): the (outward) forms are (like) the grains, while the heart (spirit) is (like) the ant.
زان شود عیسی سوی پاکان چرخ ** بد قفس‌ها مختلف یک جنس فرخ
Hence Jesus goes (ascends) to the holy ones of Heaven: the cages (bodies) were diverse, (but) the young birds (spirits) were of the same kind.
این قفس پیدا و آن فرخش نهان ** بی‌قفس کش کی قفس باشد روان 2965
This cage is visible, but the young bird in it is hidden (from sight): how should the cage be moving without a cage-carrier?
ای خنک چشمی که عقلستش امیر ** عاقبت‌بین باشد و حبر و قریر
Oh, blessed is the eye that is ruled by reason, (the eye) that discerns the end and is wise and cool.
فرق زشت و نغز از عقل آورید ** نی ز چشمی کز سیه گفت و سپید
Get (learn) the distinction between evil and good from reason, not from the eye that tells (only) of black and white.
چشم غره شد به خضرای دمن ** عقل گوید بر محک ماش زن
The eye is beguiled by the verdure on dunghills, (but) reason says, “Put it to my touchstone.”
آفت مرغست چشم کام‌بین ** مخلص مرغست عقل دام‌بین
The eye that sees (only) its (object of) desire is the bird's bane; reason, which sees the trap, is the bird's means of deliverance.