چون الف از خود فنا شد مکتنف ** بی و سین بی او همی‌گویند الف 2245
When the alif has passed away from self(-existence), taking shelter (in self-abandonment), the b and the s say “alif” without it.
ما رمیت اذ رمیت بی ویست ** هم‌چنین قال الله از صمتش بجست
(The words) thou didst not throw when thou threwest are (an utterance spoken) without him (the Prophet); likewise (the words) God said sprang from his silence.
تا بود دارو ندارد او عمل ** چونک شد فانی کند دفع علل
So long as a drug exists (independently), it has no effect; it removes diseases (only) when it has perished (has been dissolved and assimilated).
گر شود بیشه قلم دریا مداد ** مثنوی را نیست پایانی امید
(Even) if (all) the forest should become pens and (all) the ocean ink, (yet) there is no hope of bringing the Mathnawí to an end.
چارچوب خشت‌زن تا خاک هست ** می‌دهد تقطیع شعرش نیز دست
So long as the Brick-maker's mould is (filled with) earth, the scansion of its (the Mathnawí's) poetry, too, will be kept up.
چون نماند خاک و بودش جف کند ** خاک سازد بحر او چون کف کند 2250
When earth remains no more and He (God) dries (withers and destroys) its existence, His sea when it foams will make (fresh) earth.
چون نماند بیشه و سر در کشد ** بیشه‌ها از عین دریا سر کشد
When the forest remains no more and disappears (from existence), (other) forests will raise their heads from the essence of the Sea.
بهر این گفت آن خداوند فرج ** حدثوا عن بحرنا اذ لا حرج
Hence that Lord of relief (from sorrow) said, “Relate Traditions (drawn) from our Sea, since there is no harm (in doing so).”
باز گرد از بحر و رو در خشک نه ** هم ز لعبت گو که کودک‌راست به
(Now) turn back from the Sea and set thy face towards dry land: talk only of the plaything, for it is better (more suitable) for the child,
تا ز لعبت اندک اندک در صبا ** جانش گردد با یم عقل آشنا
So that in his boyhood, (advancing) little by little beyond the plaything, his spirit may become acquainted with the ocean of Reason.