There is no intuitive (actual) certainty until you burn; (if) you desire this certainty, sit down in the fire.
تا نسوزی نیست آن عین الیقین ** این یقین خواهی در آتش در نشین
When the ear is penetrating, it becomes an eye; otherwise, the word (of God) becomes entangled in the ear (and does not reach the heart).
گوش چون نافذ بود دیده شود ** ور نه قل در گوش پیچیده شود
This discourse hath no end. Turn back, that (we may see) what the King did to those slaves of his.
این سخن پایان ندارد باز گرد ** تا که شه با آن غلامانش چه کرد
How the King sent away one of the two slaves and interrogated the other.
به راه کردن شاه یکی را از آن دو غلام و از این دیگر پرسیدن
When he saw that that laddie was possessed of keen intelligence, he made a sign to the other to come (to him).
آن غلامک را چو دید اهل ذکا ** آن دگر را کرد اشارت که بیا
(If) I have called him by (a word which has) the suffix of pity (tenderness), ’tis not to belittle him: if a grandfather say “my sonny,” it is not (in) contempt.865
When the second (slave) came before the King, he had a stinking mouth and black teeth.
چون بیامد آن دوم در پیش شاه ** بود او گنده دهان دندان سیاه
Although the King was displeased by his speech, still he made some inquiry concerning his hidden thoughts.
گر چه شه ناخوش شد از گفتار او ** جستجویی کرد هم ز اسرار او
He said, “With this aspect and this foul smell of the mouth, sit at a distance, but do not move too far off—
گفت با این شکل و این گند دهان ** دور بنشین لیک آن سو تر مران
For (hitherto) you have been (with regard to me in the position of) a writer of letters and notes; you have not been a companion and friend and comrade—
که تو اهل نامه و رقعه بدی ** نه جلیس و یار و هم بقعه بدی
That we may treat (and cure) that mouth of yours: you are (now) the beloved (patient), and we are the skilful physician.870
تا علاج آن دهان تو کنیم ** تو حبیب و ما طبیب پر فنیم