کردهام بخت جوان را نام پیر ** کاو ز حق پیر است نز ایام پیر2940
I have bestowed on (my) young Fortune (Husámu’ddín) the name of Pír (old), because he is (made) old by the Truth, not (made) old by Time.
او چنان پیری است کش آغاز نیست ** با چنان در یتیم انباز نیست
So old is he that he hath no beginning: there is no rival to such a unique Pearl.
خود قویتر میشود خمر کهن ** خاصه آن خمری که باشد من لدن
Verily, old wine grows more potent, especially the wine that is the presence of God.
پیر را بگزین که بیپیر این سفر ** هست بس پر آفت و خوف و خطر
Choose a Pír, for without a Pír this journey is exceeding full of woe and affright and danger.
آن رهی که بارها تو رفتهای ** بیقلاووز اندر آن آشفتهای
Without an escort you are bewildered (even) on a road you have travelled many times (before):
پس رهی را که ندیده ستی تو هیچ ** هین مرو تنها ز رهبر سر مپیچ2945
Do not, then, travel alone on a Way that you have not seen at all, do not turn your head away from the Guide.
گر نباشد سایهی او بر تو گول ** پس ترا سر گشته دارد بانگ غول
Fool, if his shadow (protection) be not over you, then the cry of the ghoul will keep you (wandering about) with your head in a whirl.
غولت از ره افکند اندر گزند ** از تو داهیتر در این ره بس بدند
The ghoul will (entice you) from the Way (and) cast you into destruction: there have been in this Way many craftier than you (who have perished miserably).
از نبی بشنو ضلال رهروان ** که چشان کرد آن بلیس بد روان
Hear (learn) from the Qur’án the perdition of the wayfarers, what the evil-souled Iblís did unto them:
صد هزاران ساله راه از جاده دور ** بردشان و کردشان ادبار و عور
He carried them far—a journey of hundreds of thousands of years—from the Highway, and made them backsliders and naked (devoid of good works).