فرق و اشکالات آید زین مقال ** زانک نبود مثل این باشد مثال

Differences and difficulties arise from this saying, because this is not a (complete) similitude: it is (only) a comparison.

فرقها بی‌حد بود از شخص شیر ** تا به شخص آدمی‌زاد دلیر 420

Endless are the differences between the corporeal figure of a lion and the figure of a courageous son of man;

لیک در وقت مثال ای خوش‌نظر ** اتحاد از روی جانبازی نگر

But at the moment of (making) the comparison consider, O thou who hast good insight, their oneness in respect of hazarding their lives;

کان دلیر آخر مثال شیر بود ** نیست مثل شیر در جمله‌ی حدود

For, after all, the courageous man did resemble the lion, (though) he is not like the lion in all points of the definition.

متحد نقشی ندارد این سرا ** تا که مثلی وا نمایم من ترا

This abode (the world) does not contain any form (that is) one (with any other form), so that I might show forth to thee a (complete) similitude.

هم مثال ناقصی دست آورم ** تا ز حیرانی خرد را وا خرم

Still, I will bring to hand an imperfect comparison, that I may redeem thy mind from confusion.

شب بهر خانه چراغی می‌نهند ** تا به نور آن ز ظلمت می‌رهند 425

At night a lamp is placed in every house, in order that by its light they (the inmates) may be delivered from darkness.

آن چراغ این تن بود نورش چو جان ** هست محتاج فتیل و این و آن

That lamp is (like) this body, its light like the (animal) soul; it requires a wick and this and that.

آن چراغ شش فتیله‌ی این حواس ** جملگی بر خواب و خور دارد اساس

That lamp with six wicks, namely, these senses, is based entirely upon sleep and food.

بی‌خور و بی‌خواب نزید نیم دم ** با خور و با خواب نزید نیز هم

Without food and sleep it would not live half a moment; nor even with food and sleep does it live either.