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.

عقل از آن بازی همی‌یابد صبی ** گرچه با عقلست در ظاهر ابی 2255

By means of that play the boy is (gradually) acquiring reason, though superficially it (his play) is repugnant (to reason).

کودک دیوانه بازی کی کند ** جزو باید تا که کل را فی کند

How can a demented child play? There must be (in the child) a part (of reason) in order that it (the part) may attain to the whole.

رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی قبه و گنج

Returning to the Story of the dome and the treasure.

نک خیال آن فقیرم بی‌ریا ** عاجز آورد از بیا و از بیا

Lo, the idea of that fakir with (his cries) “Come! come!” has rendered me unfeignedly (really) unable (to resist his appeal).