چون ببندی شهوتش را از رغیف ** سر کند آن شهوت از عقل شریف
When you bind its lust (and debar it) from the loaf, that lust puts forth its head from (is transformed into) noble reason.
هم‌چو شاخی که ببری از درخت ** سر کند قوت ز شاخ نیک‌بخت
As, when you lop off a (superfluous) branch from a tree, vigour is imparted to the well-conditioned branches.
چونک کردی دم او را آن طرف ** گر رود پس پس رود تا مکتنف 1125
When you have turned its (the carnal steed's) tail in that direction, if it goes backward, it goes to the place of shelter.
حبذا اسپان رام پیش‌رو ** نه سپس‌رو نه حرونی را گرو
How excellent are the docile horses which go forward, not backward, and are not given over to restiveness,
گرم‌رو چون جسم موسی کلیم ** تا به بحرینش چو پهنای گلیم
Going hot-foot, like the body of Moses the Kalím, to which (the distance) to the two seas (was) as the breadth of a blanket!
هست هفصدساله راه آن حقب ** که بکرد او عزم در سیران حب
Seven hundred years is the duration of the journey on which he set out in the path of Love, (the journey that lasted) for an age.
همت سیر تنش چون این بود ** سیر جانش تا به علیین بود
Since the aspiration (that carried him) on his journey in the body is (as immense as) this, his journey in the spirit must be (even) unto the highestParadise.
شهسواران در سباقت تاختند ** خربطان در پایگه انداختند 1130
The kingly cavaliers sped forward in advance (of all); the boobies unloaded (their beasts of burden) in the stable-yard.
مثل
Parable.
آن‌چنان که کاروانی می‌رسید ** در دهی آمد دری را باز دید
’Tis like (the tale of) the caravaneers (who) arrived and entered a village and found a certain door open.
آن یکی گفت اندرین برد العجوز ** تا بیندازیم اینجا چند روز
One (of them) said, “During this spell of cold weather let us unload (alight) here for a few days.”