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).
استخوانهاشان ببین و مویشان ** عبرتی گیر و مران خر سویشان2950
Behold their bones and their hair! Take warning, and drive not your ass towards them!