باز صندوقی پر از قرآن به است ** زانک صندوقی بود خالی بدست
Again, a coffer full of the Qur’án is better than he that is (like) an empty coffer in the hand.
باز صندوقی که خالی شد ز بار ** به ز صندوقی که پر موشست و مار
Yet again, the coffer that is empty of (any) load is better than the coffer that is full of mice and snakes.
حاصل اندر وصل چون افتاد مرد ** گشت دلاله به پیش مرد سرد1400
The sum (of the matter is this): when a man has attained to union, the go between becomes worthless to him.
چون به مطلوبت رسیدی ای ملیح ** شد طلب کاری علم اکنون قبیح
Since you have reached the object of your search, O elegant one, the search for knowledge has now become evil.
چون شدی بر بامهای آسمان ** سرد باشد جست وجوی نردبان
Since you have mounted to the roofs of Heaven, it would be futile to seek a ladder.
جز برای یاری و تعلیم غیر ** سرد باشد راه خیر از بعد خیر
After (having attained to) felicity, the way (that leads) to felicity is worthless except for the sake of helping and teaching others.
آینه‌ی روشن که شد صاف و ملی ** جهل باشد بر نهادن صیقلی
The shining mirror, which has become clear and perfect— ’twould be folly to apply a burnisher (to it).
پیش سلطان خوش نشسته در قبول ** زشت باشد جستن نامه و رسول1405
Seated happily beside the Sultan (and) in favour (with him) —’twould be disgraceful to seek letter and messenger.
داستان مشغول شدن عاشقی به عشق‌نامه خواندن و مطالعه کردن عشق‌نامه درحضور معشوق خویش و معشوق آن را ناپسند داشتن کی طلب الدلیل عند حضور المدلول قبیح والاشتغال بالعلم بعد الوصول الی المعلوم مذموم
Story of a lover's being engrossed in reading and perusing a love-letter in the presence of his beloved, and how the beloved was displeased thereat. It is shameful to seek the proof in the presence of that which is proved, and blameworthy to occupy one's self with knowledge after having attained to that which is known.
آن یکی را یار پیش خود نشاند ** نامه بیرون کرد و پیش یار خواند
A certain man, (when) his beloved let (him) sit beside her, produced a letter and read it to her.
بیتها در نامه و مدح و ثنا ** زاری و مسکینی و بس لابه‌ها
In the letter were verses and praise and laud, lamentation and wretchedness and many humble entreaties.