سست‌چشمانی که شب جولان کنند ** کی طواف مشعله‌ی ایمان کنند
The weak-eyed (bat-like) ones that go about at night, how shall they make a circuit round the Cresset of the Faith?
نکته‌های مشکل باریک شد ** بند طبعی که ز دین تاریک شد
Difficult subtle points of disputation are the chains of (hold in bondage) the nature that has become dark (blind) to the (true) Religion.
تا بر آراید هنر را تار و پود ** چشم در خورشید نتواند گشود
So long as he (such an one) decks out the warp and woof of (his own) cleverness, he cannot open his eyes to the Sun.
هم‌چو نخلی برنیارد شاخها ** کرده موشانه زمین سوراخها
He does not lift up branches (to the sky) like a date-palm: he has bored holes in the earth after the fashion of mice.
چار وصفست این بشر را دل‌فشار ** چارمیخ عقل گشته این چهار 30
This humankind have four heart-oppressing qualities: these four have become the gibbet of Reason.
تفسیر خذ اربعة من الطیر فصرهن الیک
Commenting on “Take four birds and turn them towards thee.”
تو خلیل وقتی ای خورشیدهش ** این چهار اطیار ره‌زن را بکش
O thou whose intelligence is (resplendent) as the Sun, thou art the Khalíl (Abraham) of the time: kill these four birds that infest the Way,
زانک هر مرغی ازینها زاغ‌وش ** هست عقل عاقلان را دیده‌کش
Because each of them, crow-like, is plucking the eye from the intellect of the intelligent.
چار وصف تن چو مرغان خلیل ** بسمل ایشان دهد جان را سبیل
The four bodily qualities resemble the birds of Khalíl: their slaughter makes way for the soul (to ascend).
ای خلیل اندر خلاص نیک و بد ** سر ببرشان تا رهد پاها ز سد
O Khalíl, in (accomplishing) the deliverance of good and bad (alike), cut off their heads that the feet (of the people) may escape from the barrier (which confines them).
کل توی و جملگان اجزای تو ** بر گشا که هست پاشان پای تو 35
Thou art all, and they all are parts of thee: open (the prison), for their feet are thy feet.