So old is he that he hath no beginning: there is no rival to such a unique Pearl.
او چنان پیری است کش آغاز نیست ** با چنان در یتیم انباز نیست
Verily, old wine grows more potent, especially the wine that is the presence of God.
خود قوی‌‌تر می‌‌شود خمر کهن ** خاصه آن خمری که باشد من لدن
Choose a Pír, for without a Pír this journey is exceeding full of woe and affright and danger.
پیر را بگزین که بی‌‌پیر این سفر ** هست بس پر آفت و خوف و خطر
Without an escort you are bewildered (even) on a road you have travelled many times (before):
آن رهی که بارها تو رفته‌‌ای ** بی‌‌قلاووز اندر آن آشفته‌‌ای
Do not, then, travel alone on a Way that you have not seen at all, do not turn your head away from the Guide.2945
پس رهی را که ندیده ستی تو هیچ ** هین مرو تنها ز رهبر سر مپیچ
Fool, if his shadow (protection) be not over you, then the cry of the ghoul will keep you (wandering about) with your head in a whirl.
گر نباشد سایه‌‌ی او بر تو گول ** پس ترا سر گشته دارد بانگ غول
The ghoul will (entice you) from the Way (and) cast you into destruction: there have been in this Way many craftier than you (who have perished miserably).
غولت از ره افکند اندر گزند ** از تو داهی‌‌تر در این ره بس بدند
Hear (learn) from the Qur’án the perdition of the wayfarers, what the evil-souled Iblís did unto them:
از نبی بشنو ضلال رهروان ** که چشان کرد آن بلیس بد روان
He carried them far—a journey of hundreds of thousands of years—from the Highway, and made them backsliders and naked (devoid of good works).
صد هزاران ساله راه از جاده دور ** بردشان و کردشان ادبار و عور
Behold their bones and their hair! Take warning, and drive not your ass towards them!2950
استخوانهاشان ببین و مویشان ** عبرتی گیر و مران خر سویشان