بی‌‌پر و بی‌‌پا سفر می‌‌کردمی ** بی‌‌لب و دندان شکر می‌‌خوردمی‌‌

Without wing or foot I would be journeying, without lip or tooth I would be eating sugar.

ذکر و فکری فارغ از رنج دماغ ** کردمی با ساکنان چرخ لاغ‌‌

With a memory and thought free from brain-sickness, I would frolic with the dwellers in Heaven.

چشم بسته عالمی می‌‌دیدمی ** ورد و ریحان بی‌‌کفی می‌‌چیدمی‌‌ 2095

With eye shut I would be seeing a (whole) world, without a hand I would be gathering roses and basil.”

مرغ آبی غرق دریای عسل ** عین ایوبی شراب و مغتسل‌‌

The water-bird (his soul) was plunged in a sea of honey— the fountain of Job, to drink and wash in,

که بدو ایوب از پا تا به فرق ** پاک شد از رنجها چون نور شرق‌‌

Whereby Job, from his feet to the crown of his head, was purged of afflictions (and made pure) like the light of the sunrise.

مثنوی در حجم گر بودی چو چرخ ** درنگنجیدی در او زین نیم برخ‌‌

If the Mathnawí were as the sky in magnitude, not half the portion of this (mystery) would find room in it,

کان زمین و آسمان بس فراخ ** کرد از تنگی دلم را شاخ شاخ‌‌

For the exceeding broad earth and sky (of the material world) caused my heart, from (their) narrowness (in comparison with the spiritual universe), to be rent in pieces;

وین جهانی کاندر این خوابم نمود ** از گشایش پر و بالم را گشود 2100

And this world that was revealed to me in this dream (of the minstrel) has spread wide my wings and pinions because of (its vast) expansion.

این جهان و راهش ار پیدا بدی ** کم کسی یک لحظه‌‌ای آن جا بدی‌‌

If this world and the way to it were manifest, no one would remain there (in the material world) for a single moment.

امر می‌‌آمد که نی طامع مشو ** چون ز پایت خار بیرون شد برو

The (Divine) command was coming (to the minstrel)—“Nay, be not covetous: inasmuch as the thorn is out of thy foot, depart”—