He replied, “I know you, O Bu ’l-Hasan, to be one who has long deemed me an enemy;
گفت می‌دانم ترا ای بوالحسن ** که توی دیرینه دشمن‌دار من
But you are a reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow you to go crookedly (play false).”
لیک مرد عاقلی و معنوی ** عقل تو نگذاردت که کژ روی
The (carnal) nature desires to take revenge on its adversary: the reason is an iron chain upon the flesh.
طبع خواهد تا کشد از خصم کین ** عقل بر نفس است بند آهنین
It comes and prevents it (the flesh) and restrains it: the reason is like a police-inspector for it in its good and evil (actions).1985
آید و منعش کند وا داردش ** عقل چون شحنه‌ست در نیک و بدش
The reason that is allied to Faith is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian and magistrate of the city of the heart.
عقل ایمانی چو شحنه‌ی عادلست ** پاسبان و حاکم شهر دلست
It is mentally alert like a cat: the thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
هم‌چو گربه باشد او بیدارهوش ** دزد در سوراخ ماند هم‌چو موش
Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
در هر آنجا که برآرد موش دست ** نیست گربه یا که نقش گربه است
What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
گربه‌ی چه شیر شیرافکن بود ** عقل ایمانی که اندر تن بود
Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.1990
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند