ای بسا علم و ذکاوات و فطن ** گشته ره‌رو را چو غول و راه‌زن
Oh, how often have knowledge and keen wits and understandings become as (deadly as) the ghoul or brigand to the wayfarer!
بیشتر اصحاب جنت ابلهند ** تا ز شر فیلسوفی می‌رهند 2370
Most of those destined for Paradise are simpletons (simple-minded), so that they escape from the mischief of philosophy.
خویش را عریان کن از فضل و فضول ** تا کند رحمت به تو هر دم نزول
Strip yourself of (useless) learning and vanity, in order that (the Divine) mercy may descend on you at every moment.
زیرکی ضد شکستست و نیاز ** زیرکی بگذار و با گولی‌بساز
Cleverness is the opposite of abasement and supplication: give up cleverness and sort with stupidity.
زیرکی دان دام برد و طمع و گاز ** تا چه خواهد زیرکی را پاک‌باز
Know that cleverness is a trap for (a means of) gaining victory and (indulging) ambition and a scarecrow (such as is used by fowlers): why should the pure devotee wish to be clever?
زیرکان با صنعتی قانع شده ** ابلهان از صنع در صانع شده
The clever ones are content with an ingenious device; the simple ones have gone (away) from the artifice to rest in the Artificer,
زانک طفل خرد را مادر نهار ** دست و پا باشد نهاده بر کنار 2375
Because at breakfast time a mother will have laid the little child’s hands and feet (in repose) on her bosom.
حکایت آن سه مسافر مسلمان و ترسا و جهود و آن کی به منزل قوتی یافتند و ترسا و جهود سیر بودند گفتند این قوت را فردا خوریم مسلمان صایم بود گرسنه ماند از آنک مغلوب بود
Story of the three travellers—a Moslem, a Christian, and a Jew— who obtained (a gift of) some food at a hostelry. The Christian and the Jew had already eaten their fill, so they said, “Let us eat this food to-morrow.” The Moslem was fasting, and he remained hungry because he was overpowered (by his companions).
یک حکایت بشنو اینجا ای پسر ** تا نگردی ممتحن اندر هنر
Here listen to a story, O son, in order that you may not suffer affliction in (relying upon) talent.
آن جهود و مومن و ترسا مگر ** همرهی کردند با هم در سفر
As it happened, a Jew and a true believer and a Christian travelled together on a journey.
با دو گمره همره آمد مومنی ** چون خرد با نفس و با آهرمنی
A true believer travelled along with two miscreants, like reason (associated) with a carnal soul and Devil.
مرغزی و رازی افتند از سفر ** همره و هم‌سفره پیش هم‌دگر
In travel the man of Merv and the man of Rayy meet one another as companions on the road and at table.
در قفص افتند زاغ و جغد و باز ** جفت شد در حبس پاک و بی‌نماز 2380
Crow and owl and falcon come (as captives) into the (same) cage: the holy and the irreligious become mates in prison.
کرده منزل شب به یک کاروانسرا ** اهل شرق و اهل غرب و ما ورا
At night Easterners and Westerners and Transoxanians make their abode in the same caravanseray.
مانده در کاروانسرا خرد و شگرف ** روزها با هم ز سرما و ز برف
Small and great (folk) remain together for days in the caravanseray because of frost and snow.
چون گشاده شد ره و بگشاد بند ** بسکلند و هر یکی جایی روند
As soon as the road is opened and the obstacle removed, they separate and every one goes in a (different) direction.
چون قفس را بشکند شاه خرد ** جمع مرغان هر یکی سویی پرد
When sovereign Reason breaks the cage, all the birds fly away, each one to a (different) quarter.
پر گشاید پیش ازین بر شوق و یاد ** در هوای جنس خود سوی معاد 2385
Before this (deliverance) each one, full of longing and lament, spreads its wings towards its destination, in desire for its mate.
پر گشاید هر دمی با اشک و آه ** لیک پریدن ندارد روی و راه
At every moment it spreads its wings with tears and sighs, but it has no room or way to fly.
راه شد هر یک پرد مانند باد ** سوی آن کز یاد آن پر می‌گشاد
(As soon as) way is made, each one flies like the wind towards that in remembrance of which it spread its wings.
آن طرف که بود اشک و آه او ** چونک فرصت یافت باشد راه او
Its way, when it gains the opportunity, is towards the region whither its tears and sighs were (directed).
در تن خود بنگر این اجزای تن ** از کجاها گرد آمد در بدن
Consider your own body: from what places were these corporeal parts (elements and faculties) collected in the body—
آبی و خاکی و بادی و آتشی ** عرشی و فرشی و رومی و گشی 2390
Watery and earthen and airy and fiery, celestial and terrestrial, (some) of Rúm and (some) of Kash.
از امید عود هر یک بسته طرف ** اندرین کاروانسرا از بیم برف
In this (bodily) caravanseray one and all, from fear of the snow, have closed their eyes to the hope of returning (to their final destination).
برف گوناگون جمود هر جماد ** در شتای بعد آن خورشید داد
The various snows are (symbolise) the congelation of every inanimate thing in the winter of farness from that Sun of justice.
چون بتابد تف آن خورشید جشم ** کوه گردد گاه ریگ و گاه پشم
(But) when the heat of the angry Sun flames (forth), the mountain becomes now (like) sand and now (like) wool.