Rumi's Masnavi - But if you are accepting (the Qur’án), when you read the stories (of the prophets), the bird, your soul, will be distressed in its cage.

But if you are accepting (the Qur’án), when you read the stories (of the prophets), the bird, your soul, will be distressed in its cage. 1540

ور پذیرایی چو بر خوانی قصص ** مرغ جانت تنگ آید در قفص‌‌

The bird that is a prisoner in a cage, (if it) is not seeking to escape, ’tis from ignorance.

مرغ کاو اندر قفس زندانی است ** می‌‌نجوید رستن از نادانی است‌‌

The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.

روحهایی کز قفسها رسته‌‌اند ** انبیای رهبر شایسته‌‌اند

From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.

از برون آوازشان آید ز دین ** که ره رستن ترا این است این‌‌

By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,

ما به دین رستیم زین ننگین قفس ** جز که این ره نیست چاره‌‌ی این قفس‌‌

(That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.” 1545

خویش را رنجور سازی زار زار ** تا ترا بیرون کنند از اشتهار

Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?

که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است‌‌

The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.

قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت‌‌

There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.

بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی‌‌

When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,

چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد

Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”

هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود