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.

خویشتن مشغول کردن از ملال ** باشدش قصد از کلام ذوالجلال

His aim is to divert himself from ennui (by reading such books), and neglect the Word of the Almighty,

کاتش وسواس را و غصه را ** زان سخن بنشاند و سازد دوا

That by means of that (entertaining) discourse he may quench the fire of distress and anxiety and provide a cure (for his malady).

بهر این مقدار آتش شاندن ** آب پاک و بول یکسان شدن به فن

For the purpose of quenching this amount of fire, pure water and urine are alike in skill (are equally serviceable).