(They were) as dust scattered on the thoroughfare: the hand of the Potter made them one jug.
همچو خاک مفترق در رهگذر ** یک سبوشان کرد دست کوزهگر
(But the simile fails as applied to souls), for the oneness of bodies (formed) of water and clay is imperfect: the (oneness of) soul is not like this.
که اتحاد جسمهای آب و طین ** هست ناقص جان نمیماند بدین
If I should here utter similitudes in comparison (illustration), I fear it might disorder (perplex) the understanding.3730
گر نظایر گویم اینجا در مثال ** فهم را ترسم که آرد اختلال
Even now there exists (a) Solomon, but we are blinded by exulting in (our) farsightedness.
هم سلیمان هست اکنون لیک ما ** از نشاط دور بینی در عما
Far-sightedness keeps a man blind, just as one sleeping in a house is blind to the house.
دور بینی کور دارد مرد را ** همچو خفته در سرا کور از سرا
We are much addicted to subtle discussions, we are exceedingly fond of solving problems;
مولعیم اندر سخنهای دقیق ** در گرهها باز کردن ما عشیق
And to the end that we may tie knots and (then) undo them, (we are) making many rules for (posing and stating) the difficulty and for answering (the questions raised by it),
تا گره بندیم و بگشاییم ما ** در شکال و در جواب آیین فزا
Like a bird which should undo the fastenings of a snare, and tie (them together) at times, in order that it might become perfect in skill:3735
همچو مرغی کاو گشاید بند دام ** گاه بندد تا شود در فن تمام
It is deprived of the open country and meadowland, its life is spent in dealing with knots;
او بود محروم از صحرا و مرج ** عمر او اندر گره کاری است خرج
And even (then) the snare is nowise subdued by it, but its wings are always getting broken.
خود زبون او نگردد هیچ دام ** لیک پرش در شکست افتد مدام