پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشمبسته در خراس
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندمدانه گیر
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر میستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران525
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.
صورتت خرگاه دان معنیت ترک ** معنیت ملاح دان صورت چو فلک530
Deem your form to be the tent, your real essence the Turcoman, regard your essence as the sailor, your form as the ship.
بهر حق این را رها کن یک نفس ** تا خر خواجه بجنباند جرس
For God’s sake, quit this (topic) for a moment, so that the Khwaja’s ass may shake its bell (proceed on its journey).
رفتن خواجه و قومش به سوی ده
How the Khwaja and his family went to the country.
خواجه و بچگان جهازی ساختند ** بر ستوران جانب ده تاختند
The Khwaja and his children prepared an outfit and galloped on their beasts towards the country.
شادمانه سوی صحرا راندند ** سافروا کی تغنموا بر خواندند
Merrily they rode a field; they chanted, “Travel, that ye may gain advantage”;
کز سفرها ماه کیخسرو شود ** بی سفرها ماه کی خسرو شود
For by traveling the moon becomes (splendid, like) Kay Khusraw: how should it become an emperor (khusraw) without traveling?
از سفر بیدق شود فرزین راد ** وز سفر یابید یوسف صد مراد535
Through travel the pawn becomes a noble queen, and through travel Joseph gained a hundred objects of desire.
روز روی از آفتابی سوختند ** شب ز اختر راه میآموختند
By day they scorched their faces in the sun, by night they were learning the away from the stars.
خوب گشته پیش ایشان راه زشت ** از نشاط ده شده ره چون بهشت
The bad road to them seemed good: from (their) delight in the country the road seemed like Paradise.
تلخ از شیرینلبان خوش میشود ** خار از گلزار دلکش میشود
From sweet-lipped ones (even) bitterness becomes sweet; from the rose-garden (even) thorns become charming.
حنظل از معشوق خرما میشود ** خانه از همخانه صحرا میشود
Colocynth turns into dates (when it comes) from the beloved; the (narrow) house is made (like) spacious fields by the house-mate.
ای بسا از نازنینان خارکش ** بر امید گلعذار ماهوش540
Oh, (there is) many a dainty youth that suffers thorns (of anguish) in the hope of (winning) a rose-cheeked moon-like (sweetheart).
ای بسا حمال گشته پشتریش ** از برای دلبر مهروی خویش
Oh, (there is) many a porter, his back torn with wounds for the sake of the moon-faced one to whom he has lost his heart.
کرده آهنگر جمال خود سیاه ** تا که شب آید ببوسد روی ماه
The ironsmith has blackened his beauty, that (when) night comes he may kissthe face of (a beloved like) the moon.
خواجه تا شب بر دکانی چار میخ ** زانک سروی در دلش کردست بیخ
The merchant (sits), racked, on a bench (in his shop) till nightfall, because (some one tall and slender as) a cypress has taken root in his heart.
تاجری دریا و خشکی میرود ** آن بمهر خانهشینی میدود
A trader is faring over sea and land: he runs (makes those swift journeys) for live of one who sits at home.
هر که را با مرده سودایی بود ** بر امید زندهسیمایی بود545
Whoever has a passion for that which is dead, ‘tis in hope of (gaining) one who has the features of the living.
آن دروگر روی آورده به چوب ** بر امید خدمت مهروی خوب
The carpenter turns his face (attention) to wood, in the hope of rendering service to a fair one whose face is like the moon.
بر امید زندهای کن اجتهاد ** کو نگردد بعد روزی دو جماد
Do thou exert thyself in hope of the Living One who does not become lifeless after a day or two!