سوی آن مرغابیان رو روز چند ** تا ترا در آب حیوانی کشند
Go, for a while, to those water-birds, that they may lead you to the Water of Life.
مرغ خاکی مرغ آبی هم‌تنند ** لیک ضدانند آب و روغنند
The land-bird and the water-bird have the same body (outward appearance), but they are (really) opposites: they are (like) water and oil.
هر یکی مر اصل خود را بنده‌اند ** احتیاطی کن بهم ماننده‌اند
Each (of them) is devoted to its own origin; have a care (in discriminating between them): they resemble each other (externally),
همچنانک وسوسه و وحی الست ** هر دو معقولند لیکن فرق هست3490
Just as both (Satanic) suggestion and Divine inspiration are intelligible, and yet there is a (great) difference (between them).
هر دو دلالان بازار ضمیر ** رختها را می‌ستایند ای امیر
Both (these) brokers in the market of Conscience extol their wares, O prince.
گر تو صراف دلی فکرت شناس ** فرق کن سر دو فکر چون نخاس
If you are a spiritual money-changer, one who recognises thought, distinguish the real nature of the two thoughts which resemble slave-dealers (commending the slaves they hope to sell);
ور ندانی این دو فکرت از گمان ** لا خلابه گوی و مشتاب و مران
And if from (your own) opinion you do not know (the true nature of) these two thoughts, say, “No deception!” and be not in a hurry and do not push forward.
حیله دفع مغبون شدن در بیع و شرا
The means of preventing one's self from being swindled in sale and purchase.
آن یکی یاری پیمبر را بگفت ** که منم در بیعها با غبن جفت
A certain friend said to the Prophet, “I am always being swindled in commerce.
مکر هر کس کو فروشد یا خرد ** همچو سحرست و ز راهم می‌برد3495
The deceit of every one who sells or buys is like magic and leads me off the track.”
گفت در بیعی که ترسی از غرار ** شرط کن سه روز خود را اختیار
He (the Prophet) said, “When thou art afraid of being duped in a commercial transaction, stipulate (that thou shalt have) for thyself three days (in which) to choose,
که تانی هست از رحمان یقین ** هست تعجیلت ز شیطان لعین
For deliberation is assuredly from the Merciful (God); thy haste is from the accursed Devil.”
پیش سگ چون لقمه نان افکنی ** بو کند آنگه خورد ای معتنی
When you throw a morsel of bread to a dog, he (first) smells, then he eats, O careful one.
او ببینی بو کند ما با خرد ** هم ببوییمش به عقل منتقد
He smells with the nose, we too (who are endowed) with wisdom smell it (the object submitted to us) with the purified intelligence.
با تانی گشت موجود از خدا ** تابه شش روز این زمین و چرخها3500
This earth and the (heavenly) spheres were brought into existence by God with deliberation (extending) to six days;
ورنه قادر بود کو کن فیکون ** صد زمین و چرخ آوردی برون
Otherwise, He was able—“Be, and it is”—to bring forth a hundred earths and heavens (from non-existence).
آدمی را اندک اندک آن همام ** تا چهل سالش کند مرد تمام
Little by little till forty years (of age) that Potentate makes the human being a complete man,
گرچه قادر بود کاندر یک نفس ** از عدم پران کند پنجاه کس
Although He was able in a single moment to set flying (raise up) fifty persons from non-existence.
عیسی قادر بود کو از یک دعا ** بی توقف بر جهاند مرده را
Jesus by means of one prayer was able to make the dead spring up (to life) without delay:
خالق عیسی بنتواند که او ** بی توقف مردم آرد تو بتو3505
Is the Creator of Jesus unable, without delay, to bring (full-grown) men in manifold succession (into existence)?
این تانی از پی تعلیم تست ** که طلب آهسته باید بی سکست
This deliberation is for the purpose of teaching you that you must seek (God) slowly without (any) break.
جو یکی کوچک که دایم می‌رود ** نه نجس گردد نه گنده می‌شود
A little rivulet which is moving continually does not become defiled or grow fetid.
زین تانی زاید اقبال و سرور ** این تانی بیضه دولت چون طیور
From this deliberation are born felicity and joy: this deliberation is the egg, fortune is like the birds (hatched from the egg).
مرغ کی ماند به بیضه‌ای عنید ** گرچه از بیضه همی آید پدید
How should the bird resemble the egg, O obstinate one, though it is produced from the egg?
باش تا اجزای تو چون بیضه‌ها ** مرغها زایند اندر انتها3510
Wait till your limbs, like eggs, hatch birds ultimately (at the Resurrection)!
بیضه‌ی مار ارچه ماند در شبه ** بیضه گنجشک را دورست ره
Though the serpent's egg resembles the sparrow's egg in (outward) likeness, the distance (between them) is far.