And burn up from root and bottom the soil whence its plants grow, so that the old (withered) ones would never again become fresh.
منبتش را سوختی از بیخ و بن ** که دگر تازه نگشتی آن کهن
If December is sour-faced, (yet) it is kind; summer is laughing, but (none the less) it is burning (destroying).
گر ترش‌رویست آن دی مشفق است ** صیف خندانست اما محرقست
When (spiritual) contraction comes, behold expansion therein: be fresh (cheerful) and do not let wrinkles fall on your brow.
چونک قبض آید تو در وی بسط بین ** تازه باش و چین میفکن در جبین
Children are laughing, and sages are sour: sorrow appertains to the liver, and joy arises from the lungs.3740
کودکان خندان و دانایان ترش ** غم جگر را باشد و شادی ز شش
The eye of the child, like (that of) the ass, is (fixed) on the stall; the eye of the wise man is (engaged) in reckoning the end.
چشم کودک همچو خر در آخرست ** چشم عاقل در حساب آخرست
He (the child) sees the rich fodder in the stall, while this (wise man) sees his ultimate end to be death by (the hand of) the Butcher.
او در آخر چرب می‌بیند علف ** وین ز قصاب آخرش بیند تلف
That fodder is bitter (in the end), for this Butcher gave it: He set up a pair of scales for our flesh.
آن علف تلخست کین قصاب داد ** بهر لحم ما ترازویی نهاد
Go, eat the fodder of wisdom which God hath given (us) disinterestedly from pure bounty.
رو ز حکمت خور علف کان را خدا ** بی غرض دادست از محض عطا
O slave (to your lusts), you have understood bread, not wisdom, (to be meant) in that (text) which God hath spoken unto you—Eat ye of His provision.3745
فهم نان کردی نه حکمت ای رهی ** زانچ حق گفتت کلوا من رزقه
God's provision in the (present) stage (of your existence) is wisdom that will not choke you at the last (in the world hereafter).
رزق حق حکمت بود در مرتبت ** کان گلوگیرت نباشد عاقبت