Do not act thus as a guide from (with the motive of) greed for amassing (wealth and power): follow behind, in order that the Candle (the true guide) may go in front (of thee).”
این قلاوزی مکن از حرص جمع ** پس‌روی کن تا رود در پیش شمع
The Candle, like the moon, shows (clearly) the (traveller's) destination, and whether in this direction there is the grain (of spiritual welfare) or the place for the snare (of perdition).
شمع مقصد را نماید هم‌چو ماه ** کین طرف دانه‌ست یا خود دامگاه
Whether thou wilt or not, (so long as thou art) with the Lantern the form of falcon and the form of crow become visible (to thee).
گر بخواهی ور نخواهی با چراغ ** دیده گردد نقش باز و نقش زاغ
Otherwise, (beware, for) these crows have lit (the lantern of) fraud: they have learned the cry of the white falcons.1700
ورنه این زاغان دغل افروختند ** بانگ بازان سپید آموختند
If a man learn the cry of the hoopoe, (yet) where is the mystery of the hoopoe and the message from Sabá?
بانگ هدهد گر بیاموزد فتی ** راز هدهد کو و پیغام سبا
Know (distinguish) the natural cry from the artificial one, (know) the crown of kings from the crown (crest) of hoopoes.
بانگ بر رسته ز بر بسته بدان ** تاج شاهان را ز تاج هدهدان
These shameless persons have attached to their tongues the speech of dervishes and the deep sayings of gnostics.
حرف درویشان و نکته‌ی عارفان ** بسته‌اند این بی‌حیایان بر زبان
Every destruction of an olden people that there was—(it was) because they deemed sandal-wood to be (common) wood.
هر هلاک امت پیشین که بود ** زانک چندل را گمان بردند عود
They had the discernment that should make that (difference) evident, but greed and cupidity make (men) blind and deaf.1705
بودشان تمییز کان مظهر کند ** لیک حرص و آز کور و کر کند
The blindness of the (physically) blind is not far from (the Divine) mercy; ’tis the blindness of greed that is inexcusable.
کوری کوران ز رحمت دور نیست ** کوری حرص است که آن معذور نیست