They were not seeking from him excellence of piety; they were inquiring where lay the outward defect.
فضل طاعت را نجستندی از او ** عیب ظاهر را بجستندی که کو
Hair by hair, speck by speck, they were recognising the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul as (plainly as the difference of) the rose from parsley.
مو به مو و ذره ذره مکر نفس ** می‌‌شناسیدند چون گل از کرفس
Even the hair-splitters (the most scrupulous) of the Companions used to become distraught in spirit at the (Prophet's) admonition to them (the inquirers).370
موشکافان صحابه هم در آن ** وعظ ایشان خیره گشتندی به جان
How the Christians followed the vizier.
متابعت نصارا وزیر را
The Christians all gave their hearts to him: what (how great), indeed, is the strength of the (blind) conformity of the vulgar!
دل بدو دادند ترسایان تمام ** خود چه باشد قوت تقلید عام
They planted love of him within their breasts, they were regarding him as the vicar of Jesus.
در درون سینه مهرش کاشتند ** نایب عیساش می‌‌پنداشتند
He inwardly (in reality) was the accursed one-eyed Antichrist. O God, do Thou (hear and) answer the cry (of those in trouble) —what a good helper art Thou!
او به سر دجال یک چشم لعین ** ای خدا فریادرس نعم المعین
O God, there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are as greedy foodless birds.
صد هزاران دام و دانه ست ای خدا ** ما چو مرغان حریص بی‌‌نوا
From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare, though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Símurgh.375
دم‌‌به‌‌دم ما بسته‌‌ی دام نویم ** هر یکی گر باز و سیمرغی شویم
Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!
می‌‌رهانی هر دمی ما را و باز ** سوی دامی می‌‌رویم ای بی‌‌نیاز
We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.
ما در این انبار گندم می‌‌کنیم ** گندم جمع آمده گم می‌‌کنیم