To the end that the fool may fall boldly to fighting, and that He may catch them by this device;
تا دلیر اندر فتد احمق به جنگ ** و اندر آردشان بدین حیلت به چنگ
(And besides He is acting thus), in order that those dolts may have come towards the fire-temple by means of their own feet (by their own free will).
تا به پای خویش باشند آمده ** آن فلیوان جانب آتشکده
He is showing (what seems to you) a blade of straw, in order that you may quickly give a puff so as to make it vanish out of existence.
کاه برگی مینماید تا تو زود ** پف کنی کاو را برانی از وجود
Beware! for that straw has uprooted mountains: through it the world is weeping, while it (the straw) is in laughter.
هین که آن که کوهها بر کنده است ** زو جهان گریان و او در خنده است
He makes this river-water seem (only) up to the ankle, (but) a hundred such as Áj son of 'Unuq have ben drowned therein.2305
مینماید تا به کعب این آب جو ** صد چو عاج ابن عنق شد غرق او
He makes the wave of blood seem to him a mound of musk: He makes the bottom of the sea seem dry land.
مینماید موج خونش تل مشک ** مینماید قعر دریا خاک خشک
Blind Pharaoh deemed that sea dry, so that in (the pride of his) manhood and strength he drave into it.
خشک دید آن بحر را فرعون کور ** تا در او راند از سر مردی و زور
When he enters (it), he is at the bottom of the sea: how should the eye of Pharaoh be seeing?
چون در آید در تگ دریا بود ** دیدهی فرعون کی بینا بود
The eye is made seeing by meeting with God: how should God become the confidant of every fool?
دیده بینا از لقای حق شود ** حق کجا هم راز هر احمق شود
He (the fool) sees (what he thinks is) candy: it is, in sooth, deadly poison; he sees (what he thinks is) the road: it is, in sooth, the cry of the ghoul (luring him to destruction).2310
قند بیند خود شود زهر قتول ** راه بیند خود بود آن بانگ غول