Rumi's Masnavi - Like a mouse, he has burrowed in every direction, since the light drove him (back) from the door (the entrance to the hole) and said, ‘Away!’

Like a mouse, he has burrowed in every direction, since the light drove him (back) from the door (the entrance to the hole) and said, ‘Away!’

همچو موشی هر طرف سوراخ کرد ** چون که نورش راند از در گشت سرد

Inasmuch as he had no way (of getting out) to the open country and the light, he continued to make (such) an exertion even in that darkness.

چون که سوی دشت و نورش ره نبود ** هم در آن ظلمات جهدی می‏نمود

If God give him wings, the wings of Wisdom, he will escape from mousiness and will fly like the birds;

گر خدایش پر دهد پر خرد ** برهد از موشی و چون مرغان پرد

But if he seek not wings, he will remain underground with no hope of traversing the path to Simák. 2435

ور نجوید پر بماند زیر خاک ** ناامید از رفتن راه سماک‏

Dialectic knowledge, which is soulless, is in love with (eager for) the countenance of customers;

علم گفتاری که آن بی‏جان بود ** عاشق روی خریداران بود

(But) though it is robust at the time of disputation, it is dead and gone when it has no customer.

گر چه باشد وقت بحث علم زفت ** چون خریدارش نباشد مرد و رفت‏

My purchaser is God: He is drawing me aloft, for God hath purchased.

مشتری من خدای است او مرا ** می‏کشد بالا که الله اشتری‏

My bloodwit (the reward of my self-sacrifice) is the beauty of the Glorious One: I enjoy my bloodwit (as) lawful earnings.

خونبهای من جمال ذو الجلال ** خونبهای خود خورم کسب حلال‏

Abandon these insolvent customers: what purchase can be made by a handful of (worthless) clay? 2440

این خریداران مفلس را بهل ** چه خریداری کند یک مشت گل‏

Do not eat clay, do not buy clay, do not seek clay, because the eater of clay is always pale-faced.

گل مخور گل را مخر گل را مجو ** ز انکه گل خوار است دایم زرد رو