پس ازین یغوی به قوما کثیر ** هم ازین یهدی به قلبا خبیر
Therefore He (God) leads many folk astray by this means, and by the same means He guides aright (many) a knowing heart.
کی رمد از نی حمام آشنا ** بل رمد زان نی حمامات هوا
How should the friendly dove be scared by the (fowler's) pipe? Nay, (only) the (wild) doves in the air are scared by that pipe.
پس بگفتندش که خدمتها کنیم ** بر سمعنا و اطعناها تنیم
Then they (the princes) said to him (the King), “We will perform the services (required of us), we will be intent on hearing and obeying (thy commands).
رو نگردانیم از فرمان تو ** کفر باشد غفلت از احسان تو
We will not turn aside from thy commands: ’twould be ingratitude to forget thy kindness”;
لیک استثنا و تسبیح خدا ** ز اعتماد خود بد از ایشان جدا 3665
But, because of their reliance upon themselves, ’twas far from them to pronounce the saving clause and glorify God.
ذکر استثنا و حزم ملتوی ** گفته شد در ابتدای مثنوی
Mention of the saving clause and (of the need for) manifold precaution was made at the beginning of the Mathnawí.
صد کتاب ار هست جز یک باب نیست ** صد جهت را قصد جز محراب نیست
If there are a hundred (religious) books, (yet) they are but one chapter: a hundred (different) regions seek but one place of worship.
این طرق را مخلصی یک خانه است ** این هزاران سنبل از یک دانه است
(All) these roads end in one House: (all) these thousand ears of corn are from one Seed.
گونه‌گونه خوردنیها صد هزار ** جمله یک چیزست اندر اعتبار
All the hundred thousand sorts of food and drink are (only) one thing in respect (of their final cause).
از یکی چون سیر گشتی تو تمام ** سرد شد اندر دلت پنجه طعام 3670
When you are entirely satiated with one (kind of food), fifty (other) foods become cold (displeasing) to your heart.