یا دری بودی در آن شهر وخم ** که نظاره کردمی اندر رحم

Or would there be in that noisome city a door, so that I might gaze into the womb,

یا چو چشمه‌ی سوزنی راهم بدی ** که ز بیرونم رحم دیده شدی

Or would there be for me a path, (narrow) as the eye of a needle, so that the womb might become visible to me from outside?”

آن جنین هم غافلست از عالمی ** همچو جالینوس او نامحرمی

That embryo, too, is unaware of a world (outside): it is one unfamiliar (therewith), like Galen.

اونداند کن رطوباتی که هست ** آن مدد از عالم بیرونیست 3970

It does not know that the humours which exist (in the womb) are supplied (to it) from the external world,

آنچنانک چار عنصر در جهان ** صد مدد آرد ز شهر لامکان

Even as the four elements in this world obtain a hundred supplies (means of support) from the City beyond space.

آب و دانه در قفص گر یافتست ** آن ز باغ و عرصه‌ای درتافتست

If it has found water and seeds in its cage, those have appeared (there) from a Garden and Expanse.

جانهای انبیا بینند باغ ** زین قفص در وقت نقلان و فراغ

The spirits of the prophets behold the Garden from this cage at the time of their being transported and freed (from the body);

پس ز جالینوس و عالم فارغند ** همچو ماه اندر فلکها بازغند

Hence they are free of Galen and the world: they are shining like the moon in the skies.

ور ز جالینوس این گفت افتراست ** پس جوابم بهر جالینوس نیست 3975

And if this saying (as related) from Galen is a fiction, then my answer is not for Galen,

این جواب آنکس آمد کین بگفت ** که نبودستش دل پر نور جفت

(But) this is the answer to the person who said it, for the luminous heart has not been his mate.

مرغ جانش موش شد سوراخ‌جو ** چون شنید از گربگان او عرجوا

The bird, his spirit, became a mouse seeking a hole, when it heard from the cats (the cry), “Halt ye!”

زان سبب جانش وطن دید و قرار ** اندرین سوراخ دنیا موش‌وار

On that account his spirit, mouse-like, deemed its home and abode to be in this world-hole.

هم درین سوراخ بنایی گرفت ** درخور سوراخ دانایی گرفت

In this hole, too, it began to build and acquired a knowledge suitable to the hole;

پیشه‌هایی که مرورا در مزید ** کاندرین سوراخ کار آید گزید 3980

It chose the trades advantageous to it, which would be of use in this hole.

زانک دل بر کند از بیرون شدن ** بسته شد راه رهیدن از بدن

Inasmuch as it turned its heart away from (relinquished the desire for) going forth, the way of deliverance from the body was barred.

عنکبوت ار طبع عنقا داشتی ** از لعابی خیمه کی افراشتی

If the spider had the nature of the ‘Anqá, how should it have reared a tent (made) of some gossamer?

گربه کرده چنگ خود اندر قفص ** نام چنگش درد و سرسام و مغص

The cat has put its claws into the cage: the name of its claws is pain and delirium and gripes.

گربه مرگست و مرض چنگال او ** می‌زند بر مرغ و پر و بال او

The cat is Death, and its claws are disease: it is striking at the bird and its plumage.

گوشه گوشه می‌جهد سوی دوا ** مرگ چون قاضیست و رنجوری گوا 3985

He (the sick man) darts (like the bird) from corner to corner towards the remedy. Death is like the cadi, and the disease is the witness.

چون پیاده‌ی قاضی آمد این گواه ** که همی‌خواند ترا تا حکم گاه

This witness comes (to you), like the cadi's footman (officer), who summons you to the place of judgment.

مهلتی می‌خواهی از وی در گریز ** گر پذیرد شد و گرنه گفت خیز

You, in flight (from your doom), beg him (to grant you) a respite: if he consent, it is granted; otherwise, he says, “Arise (and go with me).”

جستن مهلت دوا و چاره‌ها ** که زنی بر خرقه‌ی تن پاره‌ها

The seeking of a respite consists in remedies and cures, that you may patch (thereby) the tattered cloak, the body.

عاقبت آید صباحی خشم‌وار ** چند باشد مهلت آخر شرم دار

At last, one morning, he comes angrily, saying, “How long will the respite be? Now, prithee, be ashamed!”

عذر خود از شه بخواه ای پرحسد ** پیش از آنک آنچنان روزی رسد 3990

O envious man, ask your pardon of the King ere such a day as that arrives.

وانک در ظلمت براند بارگی ** برکند زان نور دل یکبارگی

And he who rides his horse into the darkness and altogether removes his heart from the Light