- But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts a long tether on their leg,
- لیک بهر آن که روز آیند باز ** بر نهد بر پایشان بند دراز
- So that in the daytime He may lead it back from that meadow and bring it from the pasture (to go) under the load.
- تا که روزش واکشد ز ان مرغزار ** وز چراگاه آردش در زیر بار
- Would that He had guarded this spirit as the Men of the Cave or as the Ark of Noah,
- کاش چون اصحاب کهف این روح را ** حفظ کردی یا چو کشتی نوح را
- That this mind and eye and ear might be delivered from the Flood of wakefulness and consciousness!
- تا از این طوفان بیداری و هوش ** وارهیدی این ضمیر چشم و گوش
- Oh, in the world there is many a Man of the Cave beside you, before you, at this time: 405
- ای بسی اصحاب کهف اندر جهان ** پهلوی تو پیش تو هست این زمان
- The Friend is with him, the Cave is in converse with him; but your eyes and ears are sealed, (so) what does it avail?
- غار با او یار با او در سرود ** مهر بر چشم است و بر گوشت چه سود
- Story of the Caliph's seeing Laylá.
- قصه‌‌ی دیدن خلیفه لیلی را
- The Caliph said to Laylá: “Art thou she by whom Majnún was distracted and led astray?
- گفت لیلی را خلیفه کان توی ** کز تو مجنون شد پریشان و غوی
- Thou art not superior to other fair ones.” “Be silent,” she replied, “since thou art not Majnún.”
- از دگر خوبان تو افزون نیستی ** گفت خامش چون تو مجنون نیستی
- Whosoever is awake (to the material world) is the more asleep (to the spiritual world); his wakefulness is worse than his sleep.
- هر که بیدار است او در خواب‌‌تر ** هست بیداریش از خوابش بتر
- When our soul is not awake to God, wakefulness is like closing our doors (to Divine influences). 410
- چون به حق بیدار نبود جان ما ** هست بیداری چو در بندان ما