سنگ سرمه چون که شد در دیده‌‌گان ** گشت بینایی شد آن جا دیدبان‌‌

When the (powdered) stone of antimony went into the eyes, it turned to sight and there became a scout (one who observes the enemy from some point of vantage).

ای خنک آن مرد کز خود رسته شد ** در وجود زنده‌‌ای پیوسته شد 1535

Oh, happy is the man who was freed from himself and united with the existence of a living one!

وای آن زنده که با مرده نشست ** مرده گشت و زندگی از وی بجست‌‌

Alas for the living one who consorted with the dead! He became dead, and life sped away from him.

چون تو در قرآن حق بگریختی ** با روان انبیا آمیختی‌‌

When you have fled (for refuge) to the Qur’án of God, you have mingled with the spirit of the prophets.

هست قرآن حالهای انبیا ** ماهیان بحر پاک کبریا

The Qur’án is (a description of) the states of the prophets, (who are) the fishes of the holy sea of (Divine) Majesty.

ور بخوانی و نه‌‌ای قرآن پذیر ** انبیا و اولیا را دیده گیر

And if you read and do not accept (take to heart) the Qur’án, suppose you have seen the prophets and saints (what will that avail you?);

ور پذیرایی چو بر خوانی قصص ** مرغ جانت تنگ آید در قفص‌‌ 1540

But if you are accepting (the Qur’án), when you read the stories (of the prophets), the bird, your soul, will be distressed in its cage.

مرغ کاو اندر قفس زندانی است ** می‌‌نجوید رستن از نادانی است‌‌

The bird that is a prisoner in a cage, (if it) is not seeking to escape, ’tis from ignorance.

روحهایی کز قفسها رسته‌‌اند ** انبیای رهبر شایسته‌‌اند

The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.

از برون آوازشان آید ز دین ** که ره رستن ترا این است این‌‌

From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.

ما به دین رستیم زین ننگین قفس ** جز که این ره نیست چاره‌‌ی این قفس‌‌

By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,

خویش را رنجور سازی زار زار ** تا ترا بیرون کنند از اشتهار 1545

(That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.”

که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است‌‌

Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?

قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت‌‌

The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.

بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی‌‌

There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.

چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد

When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,

هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود

Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”

هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد 1550

Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all.

گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان‌‌

He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”

گفتش آن طوطی که آن جا طوطیان ** چون ببینی کن ز حال من بیان‌‌

The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),

کان فلان طوطی که مشتاق شماست ** از قضای آسمان در حبس ماست‌‌

‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.

بر شما کرد او سلام و داد خواست ** وز شما چاره و ره ارشاد خواست‌‌

She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.

گفت می‌‌شاید که من در اشتیاق ** جان دهم اینجا بمیرم در فراق‌‌ 1555

She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation?

این روا باشد که من در بند سخت ** گه شما بر سبزه گاهی بر درخت‌‌

Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage, while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?

این چنین باشد وفای دوستان ** من در این حبس و شما در بوستان‌‌

The faith kept by friends, is it like this?—I in this prison and ye in the rose-garden.

یاد آرید ای مهان زین مرغ زار ** یک صبوحی در میان مرغزار

O ye noble ones, call to mind this piteous bird, (and drink in memory of me) a morning-draught amongst the meadows!