تا نبیند دل دهنده‌‌ی راز را ** تا نبیند تیر دور انداز را

So long as the heart does not see the Giver of (its) conscience, so long as the arrow does not see the far-shooting Archer,

اسب خود را یاوه داند وز ستیز ** می‌‌دواند اسب خود در راه تیز 1115

He (who is thus blind) thinks his horse is lost, though (all the while) he is obstinately speeding his horse on the road.

اسب خود را یاوه داند آن جواد ** و اسب خود او را کشان کرده چو باد

That fine fellow thinks his horse is lost, while the horse in truth is sweeping him onward like the wind.

در فغان و جستجو آن خیره‌‌سر ** هر طرف پرسان و جویان دربدر

In lamentation and inquiry that scatterbrain (runs) from door to door in every direction, asking and searching:

کان که دزدید اسب ما را کو و کیست ** این که زیر ران تست ای خواجه چیست‌‌

“Where and who is he that stole my horse?” What is this (animal) under thy thigh, O master?

آری این اسب است لیک این اسب کو ** با خود آ ای شهسوار اسب جو

“Yes, this is the horse, but where is this horse?” O dexterous rider in search of thy horse, come to thyself!

جان ز پیدایی و نزدیکی است گم ** چون شکم پر آب و لب خشکی چو خم‌‌ 1120

The Spirit is lost (to view) because of its being so manifest and near: how, having thy belly full of water, art thou dry-lipped like a jar?

کی ببینی سرخ و سبز و فور را ** تا نبینی پیش از این سه نور را

How wilt thou see red and green and russet, unless before (seeing) these three (colours) thou see the light?

لیک چون در رنگ گم شد هوش تو ** شد ز نور آن رنگها رو پوش تو

But since thy mind was lost (absorbed) in (perception of) the colour, those colours became to thee a veil from (debarred thee from contemplating) the light.

چون که شب آن رنگها مستور بود ** پس بدیدی دید رنگ از نور بود

Inasmuch as at night those colours were hidden, thou sawest that thy vision of the colour was (derived) from the light.