Rumi's Masnavi - If man were to remain in that fire (of grief), much ruin and loss would befall.

If man were to remain in that fire (of grief), much ruin and loss would befall.

گر بر آن آتش بماندی آدمی ** بس خرابی در فتادی و کمی‌‌

This world would at once become desolate: (all) selfish desires would go forth from men.” 2065

این جهان ویران شدی اندر زمان ** حرصها بیرون شدی از مردمان‌‌

Forgetfulness (of God), O beloved, is the pillar (prop) of this world: (spiritual) intelligence is a bane to this world.

استن این عالم ای جان غفلت است ** هوشیاری این جهان را آفت است‌‌

Intelligence belongs to that (other) world, and when it prevails, this world is overthrown.

هوشیاری ز آن جهان است و چو آن ** غالب آید پست گردد این جهان‌‌

Intelligence is the sun and cupidity the ice; intelligence is the water and this world the dirt.

هوشیاری آفتاب و حرص یخ ** هوشیاری آب و این عالم وسخ‌‌

A little trickle (of intelligence) is coming from yonder world, that cupidity and envy may not roar (too loudly) in this world.

ز آن جهان اندک ترشح می‌‌رسد ** تا نغرد در جهان حرص و حسد

If the trickle from the Unseen should become greater, in this world neither virtue nor vice will be left. 2070

گر ترشح بیشتر گردد ز غیب ** نی هنر ماند در این عالم نه عیب‌‌

This (topic) has no bound. Go to the starting-point, go back to the tale of the minstrel.

این ندارد حد سوی آغاز رو ** سوی قصه‌‌ی مرد مطرب باز رو

The remainder of the story of the old harper and the explanation of its issue (moral)

بقیه‌‌ی قصه‌‌ی پیر چنگی و بیان مخلص آن‌‌

That minstrel by whom the world was filled with rapture, from whose voice wondrous phantasies grew (arose in the minds of those who heard him),

مطربی کز وی جهان شد پر طرب ** رسته ز آوازش خیالات عجب‌‌

At whose song the bird of the soul would take wing, and at whose note the mind of the spirit would be distraught—

از نوایش مرغ دل پران شدی ** وز صدایش هوش جان حیران شدی‌‌