مثنوی را مسرح مشروح ده ** صورت امثال او را روح ده

Give the Mathnawí a free and open course, endow the outward form of its parables with the spirit (of life),

تا حروفش جمله عقل و جان شوند ** سوی خلدستان جان پران شوند 185

That all its words may become reason and soul and may fly towards the soul's everlasting abode.

هم به سعی تو ز ارواح آمدند ** سوی دام حرف و مستحقن شدند

(’Twas) through thy efforts (that) they came from the (world of) spirits into the trap of words and were confined (there).

باد عمرت در جهان هم‌چون خضر ** جان‌فزا و دستگیر و مستمر

May thy life in the world be like (that of) Khadir, soul-increasing and help giving and perpetual!

چون خضر و الیاس مانی در جهان ** تا زمین گردد ز لطفت آسمان

Like Khadir and Ilyás, mayst thou remain in the world (for ever), that by thy grace earth may become heaven!

گفتمی از لطف تو جزوی ز صد ** گر نبودی طمطراق چشم بد

I would declare a hundredth part of thy grace, were it not for the vainglory of the evil eye;

لیک از چشم بد زهراب دم ** زخمهای روح‌فرسا خورده‌ام 190

But from the evil venomous eye I have suffered spirit-crushing strokes.

جز به رمز ذکر حال دیگران ** شرح حالت می‌نیارم در بیان

(Therefore) I will not give an eloquent description of thy state except allusively, by telling of the state of others.

این بهانه هم ز دستان دلیست ** که ازو پاهای دل اندر گلیست

(Really, however) this pretext too is one of the lures of the heart whereby the feet of the heart are (caught) in a mire.

صد دل و جان عاشق صانع شده ** چشم بد یا گوش بد مانع شده

Hundreds of hearts and souls are in love with the Maker, (but) the evil eye or the evil ear has hindered (them from seeking union with Him).