سالها باید که اندر آفتاب ** لعل یابد رنگ و رخشانی و تاب‌‌

Years are needed in order that the ruby in (exposed to the rays of) the sun may obtain (the perfect) tint and splendour and brilliance.

باز تره در دو ماه اندر رسد ** باز تا سالی گل احمر رسد

Vegetables, again, reach maturity in two months, while the red rose comes to perfection in a year.

بهر این فرمود حق عز و جل ** سوره الانعام در ذکر اجل‌‌

For this reason the Almighty and Glorious God in the Súratu ’l-An‘ám has made mention of an appointed term (ajal).

این شنیدی مو به مویت گوش باد ** آب حیوان است خوردی نوش باد 2595

You have heard this (discourse): may the whole of you, hair by hair, be an ear (to receive it)! ’Tis the Water of Life: (if) you have drunk, may it do you good!

آب حیوان خوان مخوان این را سخن ** روح نو بین در تن حرف کهن‌‌

Call it the Water of Life, call it not a discourse: behold the new spirit in the body of the old letter!

نکته‌‌ی دیگر تو بشنو ای رفیق ** همچو جان او سخت پیدا و دقیق‌‌

(Now), my friend, hearken to another saying (which is), like the soul, very clear (to mystics) and abstruse (to the rest):

در مقامی هست هم این زهر مار ** از تصاریف خدایی خوش گوار

In a certain place (spiritual degree), through Divine dispositions even this poison and snake (worldliness and sensuality) is (rendered) digestible.

در مقامی زهر و در جایی دوا ** در مقامی کفر و در جایی روا

In one place (it is) poison and in one place medicine, in one place infidelity and in one place approved.

گر چه آن جا او گزند جان بود ** چون بدین جا در رسد درمان بود 2600

Although there it is injurious to the soul, when it arrives here it is a remedy.

آب در غوره ترش باشد و لیک ** چون به انگوری رسد شیرین و نیک‌‌

In the young grape (ghúra) the juice is sour, but it is sweet and good when the ghúra comes to be an angúr (ripe grape).