بر که افتی گاه و در جوی اوفتی ** گه بدین سو گه بدان سوی اوفتی
Now thou fallest on a mountain, now into a river; now thou wanderest in this direction, now in that.
خود نبینی تو دلیل ای جاه‌جو ** ور ببینی رو بگردانی ازو 4100
O seeker of worldly estate, thou wilt never find the guide; and if thou find him, thou wilt avert thy face from him,
که سفر کردم درین ره شصت میل ** مر مرا گمراه گوید این دلیل
Saying, “I have travelled sixty miles on this road, and (now) this guide tells me I have lost my way.
گر نهم من گوش سوی این شگفت ** ز امر او راهم ز سر باید گرفت
If I give ear to this marvel, I must begin my journey again under his authority.
من درین ره عمر خود کردم گرو ** هرچه بادا باد ای خواجه برو
I have devoted my life to this journey: (I will pursue it) come what may. Begone, O Khwája!”
راه کردی لیک در ظن چو برق ** عشر آن ره کن پی وحی چو شرق
“(Yes), thou hast journeyed (far), but (only) in opinion (unsubstantial) as lightning: (come), make a tenth part of that journey for the sake of (Divine) inspiration (glorious) as the sunrise.
ظن لایغنی من الحق خوانده‌ای ** وز چنان برقی ز شرقی مانده‌ای 4105
Thou hast read (the Verse), Opinion cannot serve instead of truth, and (yet) by a lightning-flash like that thou hast been blinded to a rising sun.
هی در آ در کشتی ما ای نژند ** یا تو آن کشتی برین کشتی ببند
Hark, come into our boat, O wretched man, or (at least) tie that boat (of thine) to this boat (of ours).”
گوید او چون ترک گیرم گیر و دار ** چون روم من در طفیلت کوروار
He replies, “How should I abandon power and dominion? How should I follow thee blindly?”
کور با رهبر به از تنها یقین ** زان یکی ننگست و صد ننگست ازین
A blind man is certainly better off with a guide than (when he goes) alone: in the former case there is (only) one ignominy, while in the latter there are a hundred.