Truly, what a cur the wolf must be, that he regarded himself in the presence of a lion like me who am peerless and unrivalled!”
گرگ خود چه سگ بود کاو خویش دید ** پیش چون من شیر بی‌‌مثل و ندید
(Then) he said, “Come forward, O thou self-esteeming ass!” He approached him, the lion seized him with his claws and rent him.
گفت پیش آ ای خری کاو خود بدید ** پیشش آمد پنجه زد او را درید
Inasmuch as he (the lion) did not see in him the kernel (real understanding) and right consideration of right conduct, he tore the skin off his head as a punishment.
چون ندیدش مغز و تدبیر رشید ** در سیاست پوستش از سر کشید
He said, “Since the sight of me did not transport thee out of thyself, a spirit like this (thine) must needs die miserably.3050
گفت چون دید منت از خود نبرد ** این چنین جان را بباید زار مرد
Since thou wert not passing away (from thyself) in my presence, ’twas an act of grace to smite thy neck (behead thee).”
چون نبودی فانی اندر پیش من ** فضل آمد مر ترا گردن زدن
Everything is perishing except His face: unless thou art in His face (essence), do not seek to exist.
کل شی‌‌ء هالک جز وجه او ** چون نه‌‌ای در وجه او هستی مجو
When any one has passed away (from himself) in my face (essence), (the words) everything is perishing are not applicable (to him),
هر که اندر وجه ما باشد فنا ** کل شيء هالک نبود جزا
Because he is in except, he has transcended not (nonentity): whosoever is in except has not passed away (perished).
ز آن که در الاست او از لا گذشت ** هر که در الاست او فانی نگشت
Whosoever is uttering ‘I’ and ‘we’ at the door (of the Divine Court), he is turned back from the door and is continuing in not (nonentity).3055
هر که بر در او من و ما می‌‌زند ** رد باب است او و بر لا می‌‌تند
The story of the person who knocked at a friend's door: his friend from within asked who he was: he said, “’Tis I,” and the friend answered, “Since thou art thou, I will not open the door: I know not any friend that is ‘I.’ Begone!”
قصه‌‌ی آن کس که در یاری بکوفت از درون گفت کیست گفت منم، گفت چون تو تویی در نمی‌‌گشایم هیچ کس را از یاران نمی‌‌شناسم که او من باشد
A certain man came and knocked at a friend's door: his friend asked him, “Who art thou, O trusty one?”