Rumi's Masnavi - These twain He dragged by their forelocks to the city (for slaughter); (but) ’tis impossible to number (all) the victims of His wrath.

These twain He dragged by their forelocks to the city (for slaughter); (but) ’tis impossible to number (all) the victims of His wrath.

این دو را پرچم به سوی شهر برد ** کشتگان قهر را نتوان شمرد

You are a favourite (of God), but within your (due) bounds. (Fear) God, (fear) God, do not set foot beyond (those) bounds. 3305

نازنینی تو ولی در حد خویش ** الله الله پا منه از حد خویش‌‌

If you combat with one who is a greater favourite than yourself, ’twill bring you down to the lowest depth of the seventh earth.

گر زنی بر نازنین تر از خودت ** در تگ هفتم زمین زیر آردت‌‌

For what purpose is the tale of ‘Ád and Thamúd? That you may know that the prophets have disdain (for the wicked).

قصه‌‌ی عاد و ثمود از بهر چیست ** تا بدانی کانبیا را نازکی است‌‌

These signs—the (earth's) swallowing up (sinners), the hurling of stones (upon them), and the thunderbolts—were evidence of the might of the Rational Soul.

این نشان خسف و قذف و صاعقه ** شد بیان عز نفس ناطقه‌‌

Kill all animals for the sake of man, kill all mankind for the sake of Reason.

جمله حیوان را پی انسان بکش ** جمله انسان را بکش از بهر هش‌‌

What is Reason? The Universal Intelligence of the man (prophet or saint) endowed with reason. Partial reason is reason (too), but it is infirm. 3310

هش چه باشد عقل کل هوشمند ** هوش جزوی هش بود اما نژند

All the animals that are wild (unfriendly) to man are inferior to the human animal.

جمله حیوانات وحشی ز آدمی ** باشد از حیوان انسی در کمی‌‌

Their blood is free to mankind, since they are estranged from the august Reason.

خون آنها خلق را باشد سبیل ** ز انکه وحشی‌‌اند از عقل جلیل‌‌

The honour of the wild animals is fallen low (has come to be of no account) because they have grown hostile to man.

عزت وحشی بدین افتاد پست ** که مر انسان را مخالف آمده ست‌‌