مرغزی و رازی افتند از سفر ** همره و همسفره پیش همدگر
In travel the man of Merv and the man of Rayy meet one another as companions on the road and at table.
در قفص افتند زاغ و جغد و باز ** جفت شد در حبس پاک و بینماز 2380
Crow and owl and falcon come (as captives) into the (same) cage: the holy and the irreligious become mates in prison.
کرده منزل شب به یک کاروانسرا ** اهل شرق و اهل غرب و ما ورا
At night Easterners and Westerners and Transoxanians make their abode in the same caravanseray.
مانده در کاروانسرا خرد و شگرف ** روزها با هم ز سرما و ز برف
Small and great (folk) remain together for days in the caravanseray because of frost and snow.
چون گشاده شد ره و بگشاد بند ** بسکلند و هر یکی جایی روند
As soon as the road is opened and the obstacle removed, they separate and every one goes in a (different) direction.
چون قفس را بشکند شاه خرد ** جمع مرغان هر یکی سویی پرد
When sovereign Reason breaks the cage, all the birds fly away, each one to a (different) quarter.
پر گشاید پیش ازین بر شوق و یاد ** در هوای جنس خود سوی معاد 2385
Before this (deliverance) each one, full of longing and lament, spreads its wings towards its destination, in desire for its mate.
پر گشاید هر دمی با اشک و آه ** لیک پریدن ندارد روی و راه
At every moment it spreads its wings with tears and sighs, but it has no room or way to fly.
راه شد هر یک پرد مانند باد ** سوی آن کز یاد آن پر میگشاد
(As soon as) way is made, each one flies like the wind towards that in remembrance of which it spread its wings.
آن طرف که بود اشک و آه او ** چونک فرصت یافت باشد راه او
Its way, when it gains the opportunity, is towards the region whither its tears and sighs were (directed).
در تن خود بنگر این اجزای تن ** از کجاها گرد آمد در بدن
Consider your own body: from what places were these corporeal parts (elements and faculties) collected in the body—
آبی و خاکی و بادی و آتشی ** عرشی و فرشی و رومی و گشی 2390
Watery and earthen and airy and fiery, celestial and terrestrial, (some) of Rúm and (some) of Kash.
از امید عود هر یک بسته طرف ** اندرین کاروانسرا از بیم برف
In this (bodily) caravanseray one and all, from fear of the snow, have closed their eyes to the hope of returning (to their final destination).
برف گوناگون جمود هر جماد ** در شتای بعد آن خورشید داد
The various snows are (symbolise) the congelation of every inanimate thing in the winter of farness from that Sun of justice.
چون بتابد تف آن خورشید جشم ** کوه گردد گاه ریگ و گاه پشم
(But) when the heat of the angry Sun flames (forth), the mountain becomes now (like) sand and now (like) wool.
در گداز آید جمادات گران ** چون گداز تن به وقت نقل جان
The gross inanimate things dissolve, like the dissolution of the body at the hour of the spirit's departure.
چون رسیدند این سه همره منزلی ** هدیهشان آورد حلوا مقبلی 2395
When these three fellow-travellers arrived at a certain hostelry, a man of fortune brought them (some) halwá (sweetmeat) as a gift.
برد حلوا پیش آن هر سه غریب ** محسنی از مطبخ انی قریب
A benefactor brought to the three strangers (some) halwá from the kitchen of Lo, I am near.
نان گرم و صحن حلوای عسل ** برد آنک در ثوابش بود امل
One who had expectation of (earning) the (Divine) reward brought (to them) warm bread and a dish of halwá made with honey.
الکیاسه والادب لاهل المدر ** الضیافه والقری لاهل الوبر
Intelligence and culture are characteristic of townsmen; hospitality and entertainment (of guests) are characteristic of tent-dwellers.
الضیافة للغریب والقری ** اودع الرحمن فی اهل القری
The Merciful (God) has implanted hospitality to strangers and entertainment (of guests) in the villagers (countryfolk).
کل یوم فی القری ضیف حدیث ** ما له غیر الاله من مغیث 2400
Every day in the villages (countryside) there is a new guest who has none to help him except God.
کل لیل فی القری وفد جدید ** ما لهم ثم سوی الله محید
Every night in the villages (countryside) are new-comers who have no refuge there save God.
تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.