صورت محتاجی آرد سوی کسب ** صورت بازو وری آرد به غصب
The form of want leads (the body) to earn (the means of livelihood); the form of strength of arm leads (the body) to seize (the property of others) by force.
این ز حد و اندازه‌ها باشد برون ** داعی فعل از خیال گونه‌گون
These (ideas) are boundless and immeasurable (in number): the motive to action (arises) from various sorts of (such) phantasy.
بی‌نهایت کیش‌ها و پیشه‌ها ** جمله ظل صورت اندیشه‌ها
All the infinite ways of life and (all) the crafts are the shadow (reflexion) of the form of thoughts.
بر لب بام ایستاده قوم خوش ** هر یکی را بر زمین بین سایه‌اش
(For example, when) happy folk (are) standing on the edge of a roof, observe the shadow of each one on the ground.
صورت فکرست بر بام مشید ** وآن عمل چون سایه بر ارکان پدید 3730
The form of thought is on the lofty roof (of the spirit), while the (resultant) action appears, like a shadow, on the pillars (bodily limbs).
فعل بر ارکان و فکرت مکتتم ** لیک در تاثیر و وصلت دو به هم
The action is (manifested) on the pillars, while the thought (that produces it) is concealed; but the two are combined in the correlation of cause and effect.
آن صور در بزم کز جام خوشیست ** فایده‌ی او بی‌خودی و بیهشیست
The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.
صورت مرد و زن و لعب و جماع ** فایده‌ش بی‌هوشی وقت وقاع
The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—hinc nascitur perturbatio animi in coitu. [The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—their result at the time of sexual union (is mental) distraction.]
صورت نان و نمک کان نعمتست ** فایده‌ش آن قوت بی‌صورتست
The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.
در مصاف آن صورت تیغ و سپر ** فایده‌ش بی‌صورتی یعنی ظفر 3735
On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory.