در ره نفس ار بمیری در منی ** تو حقیقت دان که مثل آن زنی
If you die in egoism in the way of (for the sake of) the fleshly soul, know for certain that you are like that woman.
نفس ما را صورت خر بدهد او ** زانک صورتها کند بر وفق خو
He (God) will give our fleshly soul the form of an ass, because He makes the (outward) forms to be in accordance with the (inward) nature.
این بود اظهار سر در رستخیز ** الله الله از تن چون خر گریز 1395
This is the manifestation of the secret at the Resurrection: by God, by God, flee from the ass-like body!
کافران را بیم کرد ایزد ز نار ** کافران گفتند نار اولی ز عار
God terrified (threatened) the unbelievers with the Fire: the unbelievers said, “Better the Fire than shame.”
گفت نی آن نار اصل عارهاست ** هم‌چو این ناری که این زن را بکاست
He said, “Nay, that Fire is the source of (all) shames”—like the fire (of lust) that destroyed this woman.
لقمه اندازه نخورد از حرص خود ** در گلو بگرفت لقمه مرگ بد
In her greed she ate immoderately: the mouthful of an infamous death stuck in her throat (and choked her).
لقمه اندازه خور ای مرد حریص ** گرچه باشد لقمه حلوا و خبیص
Eat (and drink) in moderation, O greedy man, though it be a mouthful of halwá or khabís.
حق تعالی داد میزان را زبان ** هین ز قرآن سوره‌ی رحمن بخوان 1400
The high God hath given the balance a tongue (which you must regulate): hark, recite the Súratu’ l-Rahmán (the Chapter of the Merciful) in the Qur’án.
هین ز حرص خویش میزان را مهل ** آز و حرص آمد ترا خصم مضل
Beware, do not in your greed let the balance go: cupidity and greed are enemies that lead you to perdition.
حرص جوید کل بر آید او ز کل ** حرص مپرست ای فجل ابن الفجل
Greed craves all and loses all: do not serve greed, O ignoble son of the ignoble.
آن کنیزک می‌شد و می‌گفت آه ** کردی ای خاتون تو استا را به راه
The maid, whilst she went (on her errand), was saying (to herself), “Ah, mistress, thou hast sent away the expert.
کار بی‌استاد خواهی ساختن ** جاهلانه جان بخواهی باختن
Thou wilt set to work without the expert and wilt foolishly hazard thy life.
ای ز من دزدیده علمی ناتمام ** ننگ آمد که بپرسی حال دام 1405
O thou who hast stolen from me an imperfect knowledge, thou wert ashamed to ask about the trap.”
هم بچیدی دانه مرغ از خرمنش ** هم نیفتادی رسن در گردنش
(If) the bird had picked the grain from its stack, the (trap-) cord would not have fallen on its neck (and made it captive).
دانه کمتر خور مکن چندین رفو ** چون کلوا خواندی بخوان لا تسرفوا
Eat less of the grain, do not patch (the body) so much (with food): after having recited eat ye, recite (also) do not exceed,
تا خوری دانه نیفتی تو به دام ** این کند علم و قناعت والسلام
So that you may eat the grain and (yet) not fall into the trap. Knowledge and contentment effect this. And (now) farewell.
نعمت از دنیا خورد عاقل نه غم ** جاهلان محروم مانده در ندم
The wise man gets happiness from the present life, not sorrow, (while) the ignorant are left in disappointment and regret.
چون در افتد در گلوشان حبل دام ** دانه خوردن گشت بر جمله حرام 1410
When the trap-cord (of sensuality) falls on their throats, it becomes unlawful (forbidden) to them all to eat the grain.
مرغ اندر دام دانه کی خورد ** دانه چون زهرست در دام ار چرد
How should the bird in the trap eat (enjoy) the grain? The grain in the trap is like poison (to him), if he feed (on it).
مرغ غافل می‌خورد دانه ز دام ** هم‌چو اندر دام دنیا این عوام
(Only) the heedless bird will eat grain from the trap, as these common folk do in the trap of the present world.
باز مرغان خبیر هوشمند ** کرده‌اند از دانه خود را خشک‌بند
Again, the knowing and prudent birds have debarred themselves from the grain;
که اندرون دام دانه زهرباست ** کور آن مرغی که در فخ دانه خواست
For the grain in the trap is poisonous food: blind is the bird that desires the grain in the trap.
صاحب دام ابلهان را سر برید ** وآن ظریفان را به مجلسها کشید 1415
The Owner of the trap cut off the heads of the foolish ones, and conducted the clever ones to the (exalted) assembly-places;
که از آنها گوشت می‌آید به کار ** وز ظریفان بانگ و ناله‌ی زیر و زار
For in the former (only) the flesh is serviceable, but in the clever ones (their) song and warble soft and low.
پس کنیزک آمد از اشکاف در ** دید خاتون را به مرده زیر خر
Deinde venit ancilla perque rimam januae heram videt sub asino mortuam. [Then, the maidservant arrived. Through a crack in the door, she saw the lady dead under the ass.]