If vinegar wants (to find) the way to the liver, let it become oxymel by (being mixed with) sugar.
سرکه را گر راه باید در جگر ** گو بشو سرکنگبین او از شکر
The meaning in poetry has no sureness of direction: it is like the sling, it is not under control.
معنی اندر شعر جز با خبط نیست ** چون قلاسنگ است اندر ضبط نیست
On the inner sense of “Let him who desires to sit with God sit with the Súfís.”
در معنی آن که من أراد أن یجلس مع الله فلیجلس مع أهل التصوف
The ambassador became beside himself from these one or two cups (of spiritual discourse): neither embassage nor message remained in his memory.
آن رسول از خود بشد زین یک دو جام ** نه رسالت یاد ماندش نه پیام
He became distraught at the power of God. The ambassador arrived at this place (state) and became a king.1530
واله اندر قدرت الله شد ** آن رسول اینجا رسید و شاه شد
When the torrent reached the sea, it became the sea; when the seed reached the cornland, it became the crop of corn.
سیل چون آمد به دریا بحر گشت ** دانه چون آمد به مزرع گشت کشت
When the bread attained to connexion with Man, the dead bread became living and endowed with knowledge.
چون تعلق یافت نان با بو البشر ** نان مرده زنده گشت و با خبر
When the wax and firewood were devoted to the fire, their dark essence became (filled with) light.
موم و هیزم چون فدای نار شد ** ذات ظلمانی او انوار شد
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).
سنگ سرمه چون که شد در دیده‌‌گان ** گشت بینایی شد آن جا دیدبان
Oh, happy is the man who was freed from himself and united with the existence of a living one!1535
ای خنک آن مرد کز خود رسته شد ** در وجود زنده‌‌ای پیوسته شد
Alas for the living one who consorted with the dead! He became dead, and life sped away from him.
وای آن زنده که با مرده نشست ** مرده گشت و زندگی از وی بجست