He said, “One ought not to say forth every secret: sometimes the even number turns out to be odd, and sometimes the odd number to be even.”1045
گفت هر رازی نشاید باز گفت ** جفت طاق آید گهی گه طاق جفت
If from guilelessness you breathe words to a mirror, the mirror at once becomes dim to us.
از صفا گر دم زنی با آینه ** تیره گردد زود با ما آینه
Do not move your lip in explanation of these three things, (namely) concerning your departure and your gold and your religion;
در بیان این سه کم جنبان لبت ** از ذهاب و از ذهب وز مذهبت
For to these three there is many an adversary and foe standing in wait for you when he knows (about any of them).
کین سه را خصم است بسیار و عدو ** در کمینت ایستد چون داند او
And if you tell (only) one or two (a few people), farewell (to your secret): every secret that goes beyond the twain (who share it) is published abroad.
ور بگویی با یکی دو الوداع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع
If you tie two or three birds together, they will remain on the ground, imprisoned by grief;1050
گر دو سه پرنده را بندی به هم ** بر زمین مانند محبوس از الم
(But in truth) they hold a consultation well-disguised and mingled, in its (apparent) significance, with that which casts error (into the mind of any one who observes them).
مشورت دارند سرپوشیده خوب ** در کنایت با غلط افکن مشوب
(Similarly) the Prophet used to take counsel, (speaking) cryptically, and they (his companions) would answer him and (would be) without knowledge (of his real meaning).
مشورت کردی پیمبر بسته سر ** گفته ایشانش جواب و بی‌‌خبر
He would speak his opinion in a covert parable, in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
در مثالی بسته گفتی رای را ** تا نداند خصم از سر پای را
He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary), while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
او جواب خویش بگرفتی از او ** وز سؤالش می‌‌نبردی غیر بو