تا در این سکری از آن سکری تو دور ** تا از این مستی از آن جامی تو دور
Whilst thou art in this (sensual) intoxication, thou art far from that (mystical) intoxication; whilst thou art drunken with this, thou art blind to that cup.
گفت‌‌وگوی ظاهر آمد چون غبار ** مدتی خاموش خو کن هوش دار
Outward speech and talk is as dust: do thou for a time make a habit of silence. Take heed!
مکرر کردن مریدان که خلوت را بشکن
How the disciples repeated their request that he should interrupt his seclusion.
جمله گفتند ای حکیم رخنه جو ** این فریب و این جفا با ما مگو
They all said: “O sage who seekest a crevice (means of evasion), say not to us this (word of) guile and harshness.
چار پا را قدر طاقت بار نه ** بر ضعیفان قدر قوت کار نه
Lay on the beast a burden in proportion to its endurance, lay on the weak a task in proportion to their strength.
دانه‌‌ی هر مرغ اندازه‌‌ی وی است ** طعمه‌‌ی هر مرغ انجیری کی است580
The bait for every bird is according to its (the bird's) measure (capacity): how should a fig be the food (lure) for every bird?
طفل را گر نان دهی بر جای شیر ** طفل مسکین را از آن نان مرده گیر
If you give a babe bread instead of milk, take it (for granted) that the poor babe will die of the bread;
چون که دندانها بر آرد بعد از آن ** هم بخود گردد دلش جویای نان
(Yet) afterwards, when it grows teeth, that babe will of its own accord its heart will crave bread.
مرغ پر نارسته چون پران شود ** لقمه‌‌ی هر گربه‌‌ی دران شود
When an unfledged bird begins to fly, it becomes a mouthful for any rapacious cat;
چون بر آرد پر بپرد او به خود ** بی‌‌تکلف بی‌‌صفیر نیک و بد
(But) when it grows wings, it will fly of itself without trouble and without whistling (prompting), good or bad.
دیو را نطق تو خامش می‌‌کند ** گوش ما را گفت تو هش می‌‌کند585
Thy speech makes the Devil silent, thy words make our ears (full of) intelligence.