(So too) thou hast experienced many maladies in thyself, and hast gained health from these kings of religion (the saints).
چند آن لنگی تو رهوار شد ** چند جانت بی غم و آزار شد
How oft hath thy limping been turned into a smooth (easy) gait, how oft hath thy soul been made void of grief and pain!
ای مغفل رشته‌ای بر پای بند ** تا ز خود هم گم نگردی ای لوند
O heedless one, tie a string to thy foot, that thou mayst not become lost to (unconscious of) thyself even, O sluggard!
ناسپاسی و فراموشی تو ** یاد ناورد آن عسل‌نوشی تو310
Thy ingratitude and forgetfulness did not call to mind thy (former) drinking of honey.
لاجرم آن راه بر تو بسته شد ** چون دل اهل دل از تو خسته شد
Necessarily, that way (by which spiritual blessings were conveyed) became barred to thee, since the hearts of the “men of heart” were made sore by thee.
زودشان در یاب و استغفار کن ** همچو ابری گریه‌های زار کن
Quickly overtake them and ask pardon of God; weep lamentably like a cloud,
تا گلستانشان سوی تو بشکفد ** میوه‌های پخته بر خود وا کفد
In order that their rose-garden may open its blossoms to thee, and that the ripe fruits may burst and reveal themselves.
هم بر آن در گرد کم از سگ مباش ** با سگ کهف ار شدستی خواجه‌تاش
Pace round that same door: do not be less than a dog, if thou hast become (associated as) a fellow-servant with the dog of the Cave,
چون سگان هم مر سگان را ناصح‌اند ** که دل اندر خانه‌ی اول ببند315
Because even dogs admonish dogs, saying, “Fix thy heart on thy first home,
آن در اول که خوردی استخوان ** سخت گیر و حق گزار آن را ممان
Hold fast to the first door where thou didst eat bones, and fulfil thy obligation: do not leave that (debt unpaid).”
می‌گزندش تا ز ادب آنجا رود ** وز مقام اولین مفلح شود
They keep biting him (the strange dog), that from a sense of duty he may go thither and be prospered by his first abode.
می‌گزندش کای سگ طاغی برو ** با ولی نعمتت یاغی مشو
They bite him, saying, “O naughty dog, begone! Do not become an enemy to thy benefactor.
بر همان در همچو حلقه بسته باش ** پاسبان و چابک و برجسته باش
Be attached, like the door-ring, to that same door; keep watch and be nimble and ready to spring.
صورت نقض وفای ما مباش ** بی‌وفایی را مکن بیهوده فاش320
Do not be the type of our breaking faith, do not recklessly make (our) disloyalty notorious.
مر سگان را چون وفا آمد شعار ** رو سگان را ننگ و بدنامی میار
Since fidelity is the badge by which the dogs are known, begone and do not bring opprobrium and ill-fame upon the dogs.”
بی‌وفایی چون سگان را عار بود ** بی‌وفایی چون روا داری نمود
Inasmuch as unfaithfulness has (always) been a disgrace (even) to dogs, how shouldst thou deem it right to show unfaithfulness?
حق تعالی فخر آورد از وفا ** گفت من اوفی بعهد غیرنا
The high God hath boasted of faithfulness: He hath said, “Who but I am most faithful in keeping a promise?”
بی‌وفایی دان وفا با رد حق ** بر حقوق حق ندارد کس سبق
Know that faithfulness (to others when it is accompanied) with rejection of God is unfaithfulness: no one hath precedence over (hath a prior claim to) God's rights.
حق مادر بعد از آن شد کان کریم ** کرد او را از جنین تو غریم325
Thy mother's right (only) arose after that Bounteous One had made her indebted (to Him) for thy embryo.