Rumi's Masnavi - Go on catching one and releasing another from the trap and pursuing another, like mean folk;

آن یکی می‌گیر و آن می‌هل ز دام ** وین دگر را صید می‌کن چون لام
Go on catching one and releasing another from the trap and pursuing another, like mean folk;

باز این را می‌هل و می‌جو دگر ** اینت لعب کودکان بی‌خبر
Then again release this one and seek the other! Here's a game of heedless children!

شب شود در دام تو یک صید نی ** دام بر تو جز صداع و قید نی 405
Night comes, and nothing is caught in thy trap: the trap is naught but a headache (affliction) and shackle to thee.

پس تو خود را صید می‌کردی به دام ** که شدی محبوس و محرومی ز کام
Therefore (in reality) thou wert catching thyself with the trap, for thou art imprisoned and disappointed of thy desire.

در زمانه صاحب دامی بود ** هم‌چو ما احمق که صید خود کند
Is any owner of a trap in the world such a dolt that, like us, he tries to catch himself?

چون شکار خوک آمد صید عام ** رنج بی‌حد لقمه خوردن زو حرام
Pursuit of the vulgar is like hunting pig: the fatigue is infinite, and ’tis unlawful to eat a morsel thereof.

آنک ارزد صید را عشقست و بس ** لیک او کی گنجد اندر دام کس
That which is worth pursuing is Love alone; but how should He be contained in any one's trap?

تو مگر آیی و صید او شوی ** دام بگذاری به دام او روی 410
(Yet) perchance thou mayst come and be made His prey, thou mayst discard the trap, and go into His trap.

عشق می‌گوید به گوشم پست پست ** صید بودن خوش‌تر از صیادیست
Love is saying very softly into my ear, “To be a prey is better than to be a hunter.

گول من کن خویش را و غره شو ** آفتابی را رها کن ذره شو
Make thyself My fool and be a dupe: renounce the (high) estate of the sun, become a mote!

بر درم ساکن شو و بی‌خانه باش ** دعوی شمعی مکن پروانه باش
Become a dweller at My door and be homeless: do not pretend to be a candle, be a moth,

تا ببینی چاشنی زندگی ** سلطنت بینی نهان در بندگی
That thou mayst see (taste) the savour of Life and contemplate the sovereignty hidden in servitude.”

نعل بینی بازگونه در جهان ** تخته‌بندان را لقب گشته شهان 415
In this world you see the shoes upside down: the title of “kings” is conferred on (those who are really) bondsmen.

بس طناب اندر گلو و تاج دار ** بر وی انبوهی که اینک تاجدار
Many a one who deserves to mount the scaffold with a halter on his throat—a crowd (gathers) round him, crying, “Behold, an emperor!”

هم‌چو گور کافران بیرون حلل ** اندرون قهر خدا عز و جل
(They are) like the tombs of infidels, outwardly (resembling) the robes ofParadise, (while) within (them) is the wrath of God Almighty and Glorious.

چون قبور آن را مجصص کرده‌اند ** پرده‌ی پندار پیش آورده‌اند
He (the worldling) has been plastered like the tombs: the veil of self-conceit has been brought before him (drawn over him).

طبع مسکینت مجصص از هنر ** هم‌چو نخل موم بی‌برگ و ثمر
Thy miserable nature is plastered with virtues, like a palm-tree of wax without (real) leaves and fruit.

در بیان آنک لطف حق را همه کس داند و قهر حق را همه کس داند و همه از قهر حق گریزانند و به لطف حق در آویزان اما حق تعالی قهرها را در لطف پنهان کرد و لطفها را در قهر پنهان کرد نعل بازگونه و تلبیس و مکرالله بود تا اهل تمیز و ینظر به نور الله از حالی‌بینان و ظاهربینان جدا شوند کی لیبلوکم ایکم احسن عملا
Explaining that every one knows the mercy of God, and every one knows the wrath of God; and all are fleeing from the wrath of God and clinging to the mercy of God; but the Most High God has concealed wraths in mercy and mercies in wrath. This is God's mystification and disguise and contrivance to the end that the discerning who see by the Light of God may be separated from those who see (only) the present and the visible; for (He created death and life) that He might try you, which of you is most righteous in his works.

گفت درویشی به درویشی که تو ** چون بدیدی حضرت حق را بگو 420
One dervish said to another, “Tell (me), what was thy vision of the Presence of God?”

گفت بی‌چون دیدم اما بهر قال ** بازگویم مختصر آن را مثال
He replied, “My vision was ineffable; but for the sake of argument I will briefly declare a parable thereof.

سوی چپش بس جهان‌سوز آتشی ** سوی دست راستش جوی خوشی
On His left an exceedingly world-consuming fire, on His right hand a sweet river.

سوی آن آتش گروهی برده دست ** بهر آن کوثر گروهی شاد و مست
One party put forth their hands towards the fire, (while) another party were rejoicing and intoxicated (with desire) for that Kawthar.

لیک لعب بازگونه بود سخت ** پیش پای هر شقی و نیکبخت 425
But ’twas a very topsy-turvy (mystifying) game in the path of every one doomed to perdition or blessed with salvation.

هر که سوی آب می‌رفت از میان ** او در آتش یافت می‌شد در زمان
Whoever went from the middle towards the water, he was at once found to be in the fire;