می‌رود با تو که یابد عقبه‌ای ** که تواند کردت آنجا نهبه‌ای
(And only) goes about with you in order to find a mountain-pass where he can plunder you!
یا بود اشتردلی چون دید ترس ** گوید او بهر رجوع از راه درس 505
Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road!
یار را ترسان کند ز اشتردلی ** این چنین همره عدو دان نه ولی
By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.
راه جان‌بازیست و در هر غیشه‌ای ** آفتی در دفع هر جان‌شیشه‌ای
The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
راه دین زان رو پر از شور و شرست ** که نه راه هر مخنث گوهرست
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.
در ره این ترس امتحانهای نفوس ** هم‌چو پرویزن به تمییز سبوس
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها 510
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.
گیرم آن گرگت نیابد ز احتیاط ** بی ز جمعیت نیابی آن نشاط
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
آنک تنها در رهی او خوش رود ** با رفیقان سیر او صدتو شود
He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey—(if he goes) with companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.
با غلیظی خر ز یاران ای فقیر ** در نشاط آید شود قوت‌پذیر
Notwithstanding the grossness of the ass, it (the ass) is exhilarated, O dervish, by comrades (of its own kind) and becomes capable of (exerting) strength.