زهره دارد آب کز امر صمد ** گردد او با کافران آبی کند

Will the water dare to turn aside from the command of the Lord and bestow refreshment on the unbelievers?

یا تو پنداری که تو نان می‌خوری ** زهر مار و کاهش جان می‌خوری

Or dost thou suppose that thou art eating bread? Thou art eating snake-venom and (that which causes) wasting away of the spirit.

نان کجا اصلاح آن جانی کند ** کو دل از فرمان جانان بر کند

How should bread restore to health the spirit that averts its heart from the command of the Beloved Spirit?

یا تو پنداری که حرف مثنوی ** چون بخوانی رایگانش بشنوی

Or dost thou suppose that when thou readest the words of the Mathnawí thou hearest them gratis (without giving aught in return)?

یا کلام حکمت و سر نهان ** اندر آید زغبه در گوش و دهان 3460

Or that the discourse of wisdom and the hidden mystery comes easily into thy ear and mouth?

اندر آید لیک چون افسانه‌ها ** پوست بنماید نه مغز دانه‌ها

It comes in, but, like fables, it shows (only) the husk, not the kernel of the berries,

در سر و رو در کشیده چادری ** رو نهان کرده ز چشمت دلبری

(As) a sweetheart who has drawn a veil over her head and face and has hidden her face from thine eye.

شاه‌نامه یا کلیله پیش تو ** هم‌چنان باشد که قرآن از عتو

By reason of contumacy the Sháhnáma or Kalíla seems to thee just like the Qur’án.

فرق آنگه باشد از حق و مجاز ** که کند کحل عنایت چشم باز

The difference between truth and falsehood is (visible) at the moment when the collyrium of (Divine) favour opens the eye;

ورنه پشک و مشک پیش اخشمی ** هر دو یکسانست چون نبود شمی 3465

Otherwise, dung and musk are both the same to one whose nose is obstructed (by disease), since (in him) there is no sense of smell.