چون خطایین آن حساب با صفا ** گرددش روشن ز بعد دو خطا
As (in the arithmetical method of) “the two errors,” the excellent (successful) calculation (only) becomes clear to him after two mistakes.
بعد از آن گوید اگر دانستمی ** این معیت را کی او را جستمی
After that, he says (to himself), “If I had known (the real nature of) this being with God, how should I have searched for Him?
دانش آن بود موقوف سفر ** ناید آن دانش به تیزی فکر
(But) the knowledge thereof depended on journeying: that knowledge is not to be gained by keenness of thought.”
آنچنان که وجه وام شیخ بود ** بسته و موقوف گریه‌ی آن وجود 4185
’Tis just as the payment of the Shaykh's debts was contingent and dependent on the weeping of that (young) creature.
کودک حلواییی بگریست زار ** توخته شد وام آن شیخ کبار
(When) the confectioner's boy wept bitterly, the debts of the venerable Shaykh were discharged.
گفته شد آن داستان معنوی ** پیش ازین اندر خلال مثنوی
That spiritual tale has already been related in the course of the Mathnawí.
در دلت خوف افکند از موضعی ** تا نباشد غیر آنت مطمعی
He (God) puts in thy heart the fear of (losing) a certain position, in order that no other (position) may be an object of hope to thee.
در طمع فایده‌ی دیگر نهد ** وآن مرادت از کسی دیگر دهد
To thy hope (of gaining thy wish from that quarter) He attaches another advantage (beneficial result); but He grants thee thy wish from (the hands of) some one else.
ای طمع در بسته در یک جای سخت ** که آیدم میوه از آن عالی‌درخت 4190
O thou who hast fixed thy hopes firmly on one quarter, saying, “The fruit will come to me from that lofty tree,”
آن طمع زان جا نخواهد شد وفا ** بل ز جای دیگر آید آن عطا
Thy hope will not be fulfilled from there; nay, the bounty will come from another place.