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
Do not struggle with knots, lest thy wings and feathers be snapped asunder one by one through this vain display (of effort) on thy part.
با گره کم کوش تا بال و پرت ** نگسلد یک یک از این کر و فرت
Myriads of birds have had their wings broken, and have not stopped that calamitous ambuscade (from doing its work).
صد هزاران مرغ پرهاشان شکست ** و آن کمین گاه عوارض را نبست
Read in the Qur’án (concerning) their state, O covetous one: —They explored (and wandered) in them (the lands of the earth); mark (the words), Was there any refuge?3740
حال ایشان از نبی خوان ای حریص ** نقبوا فیها ببین هل من محیص
The difficulty over angúr and ‘inab was not solved by the contest between the Turk, the Greek, and the Arab.
از نزاع ترک و رومی و عرب ** حل نشد اشکال انگور و عنب