فضل مردان بر زنان ای بو شجاع ** نیست بهر قوت و کسب و ضیاع
The superiority of men to women, O valorous one, is not on account of strength and money-making and (the possession of) landed estates;
ورنه شیر و پیل را بر آدمی ** فضل بودی بهر قوت ای عمی
Otherwise the lion and elephant because of (their) strength would be superior to the human being, O blind one.
فضل مردان بر زن ای حالی‌پرست ** زان بود که مرد پایان بین‌ترست1620
The superiority of men to women, O time-server, is because man is more regardful of the end.
مرد کاندر عاقبت‌بینی خمست ** او ز اهل عاقبت چون زن کمست
The man who is crooked in respect of seeing the end, he, like a woman, is inferior to those acquainted with the end.
از جهان دو بانگ می‌آید به ضد ** تا کدامین را تو باشی مستعد
From the World are coming two cries in opposition (to each other): (bethink thyself) for which (of them) thou art adapted.
آن یکی بانگش نشور اتقیا ** وان یکی بانگش فریب اشقیا
Its one cry is the (means of) quickening the devout with (spiritual) life; and its other cry is the (means of) cajoling the graceless.
من شکوفه‌ی خارم ای خوش گرمدار ** گل بریزد من بمانم شاخ خار
(The World says), “I am the thorn-blossom, O sweet cherisher (of love for me): the flower will drop and I shall remain a (mere) thorn-bough.”
بانگ اشکوفه‌ش که اینک گل‌فروش ** بانگ خار او که سوی ما مکوش1625
The cry of its (the World's) blossom is, “Here is the flower-seller!” The cry of its thorn is, “Do not strive (to advance) towards me.”
این پذیرفتی بماندی زان دگر ** که محب از ضد محبوبست کر
(If) thou hast accepted (responded to) this (alluring cry), thou art left (unmoved) by the other, for a lover is deaf to the contrary of the object loved (by him).
آن یکی بانگ این که اینک حاضرم ** بانگ دیگر بنگر اندر آخرم
The one cry is this, “Here am I, ready”; the other cry is, “Look upon my latter end.
حاضری‌ام هست چون مکر و کمین ** نقش آخر ز آینه‌ی اول ببین
My readiness is like guile and ambush: behold the image of the end in the mirror of the beginning.”
چون یکی زین دو جوال اندر شدی ** آن دگر را ضد و نا درخور شدی
When thou hast gone into one of these two sacks, thou hast become contrary and unsuitable to the other.
ای خنک آنکو ز اول آن شنید ** کش عقول و مسمع مردان شنید1630
Oh, happy is he who, from the first, heard that which the intelligences and the (spiritual) ears of (holy) men have heard.
خانه خالی یافت و جا را او گرفت ** غیر آنش کژ نماید یا شگفت
(If) it (the World) has found the house (the heart) empty and taken abode (there), all else appears to him (the owner of the house) perverted or wonderful (extraordinary).
کوزه‌ی نو کو به خود بولی کشید ** آن خبث را آب نتواند برید
(So with) the new pot that has drawn to itself some urine: water cannot detach that filth (from it).
در جهان هر چیز چیزی می‌کشد ** کفر کافر را و مرشد را رشد
Everything in the world draws something (to itself): infidelity (draws) the infidel and righteousness him who is guided aright.
کهربا هم هست و مقناطیس هست ** تا تو آهن یا کهی آیی بشست
There is both the amber and the magnet (lodestone): whether thou art iron or straw thou wilt come to the hook (thou wilt be attracted).
برد مقناطیست ار تو آهنی ** ور کهی بر کهربا بر می‌تنی1635
The magnet carries thee off if thou art iron; and if thou art straw, thou wilt be in contact with the amber.
آن یکی چون نیست با اخیار یار ** لاجرم شد پهلوی فجار جار
When any one is not associated with the good, he inevitably becomes a neighbour to the wicked.
هست موسی پیش قبطی بس ذمیم ** هست هامان پیش سبطی بس رجیم
Moses is very despicable in the eyes of the Egyptian; Hámán is exceedingly accursed in the eyes of the Israelite.
جان هامان جاذب قبطی شده ** جان موسی طالب سبطی شده
The spirit of Hámán has drawn the Egyptian (to itself); the spirit of Moses has sought the Israelite.
معده‌ی خر که کشد در اجتذاب ** معده‌ی آدم جذوب گندم آب
The belly of the ass draws straw (to itself) at the (moment of) indrawing (deglutition); the belly of Adam (Man) is an attractor of wheat-broth.
گر تو نشناسی کسی را از ظلام ** بنگر او را کوش سازیدست امام1640
If, on account of the darkness (of ignorance), thou dost not recognise a person (so as to discern his real nature), look at him whom he has made his imam (leader);
بیان آنک عارف را غذاییست از نور حق کی ابیت عند ربی یطعمنی و یسقینی و قوله الجوع طعام الله یحیی به ابدان الصدیقین ای فی الجوع یصل طعام‌الله
Explaining that the gnostic hath a nutriment (consisting) of the Light of God, for (the Prophet said), "I pass the night with my Lord: He giveth me meat and drink"; and "Hunger is God's food whereby He revives the bodies of the siddíqs," that is, "in hunger God's food reaches (them)."
زانک هر کره پی مادر رود ** تا بدان جنسیتش پیدا شود
For every foal goes after its dam, so that thereby (the fact of) its being a congener becomes apparent.
آدمی را شیر از سینه رسد ** شیر خر از نیم زیرینه رسد
The human creature's milk comes from the breast (the upper half); the milk of the ass comes from the under-half.