قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود520
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشم‌بسته در خراس
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندم‌دانه گیر
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر می‌ستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران525
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.