جای سوز اندر مکان کی در رود ** نور نامحدود را حد کی بود
How should that which burns (transcends) place (spatial relations) enter into space? How should there be a limit for the illimitable light?
لیک تمثیلی و تصویری کنند ** تا که در یابد ضعیفی عشقمند
But they (the mystics) use a comparison and illustration, in order that a loving feeble-minded man may apprehend (the truth).
مثل نبود لیک باشد آن مثال ** تا کند عقل مجمد را گسیل
’Tis not a simile, but ’tis a parable for the purpose of releasing (melting) the frozen intellect.
عقل سر تیزست لیکن پای سست ** زانک دل ویران شدست و تن درست
The intellect is strong in the head but weak in the legs, because it is sick of heart (spiritually decayed) though sound of body (materially flourishing).
عقلشان در نقل دنیا پیچ پیچ ** فکرشان در ترک شهوت هیچ هیچ 120
Their (the unspiritual men's) intellect is deeply involved in the dessert (pleasures) of this world: never, never do they think of abandoning sensuality.
صدرشان در وقت دعوی هم‌چو شرق ** صبرشان در وقت تقوی هم‌چو برق
In the hour of pretension their breasts are (glowing) like the orient sun, (but) in the hour of pious devotion their endurance is (brief) as the lightning.
عالمی اندر هنرها خودنما ** هم‌چو عالم بی‌وفا وقت وفا
A learned man who shows self-conceit in (displaying) his talents is faithless as the world at the time for keeping faith.
وقت خودبینی نگنجد در جهان ** در گلو و معده گم گشته چو نان
At the time when he regards himself (with pride) he is not contained in the world: he has become lost in the gullet and belly, like bread.
این همه اوصافشان نیکو شود ** بد نماند چونک نیکوجو شود
(Yet) all these (evil) qualities of theirs may become good: evil does not remain when it turns to seeking good.
گر منی گنده بود هم‌چون منی ** چون به جان پیوست یابد روشنی 125
If egoism is foul-smelling like semen, (yet) when it attains unto the spirit (spirituality) it gains light.