He hath neither a candle, that he should make it his leader, nor half a candle, that he should beg a light.
شمع نه تا پیشوای خود کند ** نیم شمعی نه که نوری کد کند
He hath neither (perfect) intelligence, that he should breathe the breath of the living, nor hath he a half-intelligence, that he should make himself dead.
نیست عقلش تا دم زنده زند ** نیم‌عقلی نه که خود مرده کند
He (the half-intelligent one) becomes wholly dead in (devotion to) the man of (perfect) intelligence, that he may ascend from his own low place to the (lofty) roof.
مرده‌ی آن عاقل آید او تمام ** تا برآید از نشیب خود به بام
(If) you have not perfect intelligence, make yourself dead under the protection of an intelligent man whose words are living.
عقل کامل نیست خود را مرده کن ** در پناه عاقلی زنده‌سخن
He (the man devoid of intelligence) is not living, that he should breathe in accord with (a) Jesus, nor is he dead, that he should become a channel for the (life-giving) breath of (a) Jesus.2200
زنده نی تا همدم عیسی بود ** مرده نی تا دمگه عیسی شود
His blind spirit is stepping in every direction: it will not escape in the end, but it is leaping up.
جان کورش گام هر سو می‌نهد ** عاقبت نجهد ولی بر می‌جهد
Story of the lake and the fishermen and the three fishes, one intelligent and one half intelligent and the third deluded, foolish, heedless and good-for-naught; and the end of all three.
قصه‌ی آن آبگیر و صیادان و آن سه ماهی یکی عاقل و یکی نیم عاقل وان دگر مغرور و ابله مغفل لاشی و عاقبت هر سه
This, O obstinate man, is the story of the lake in which there were three great fishes.
قصه‌ی آن آبگیرست ای عنود ** که درو سه ماهی اشگرف بود
You will have read it in Kalíla, but that is (only) the husk of the story, while this is the spiritual kernel.
در کلیله خوانده باشی لیک آن ** قشر قصه باشد و این مغز جان
Some fishermen passed beside the lake and saw that concealed (prey).
چند صیادی سوی آن آبگیر ** برگذشتند و بدیدند آن ضمیر
Then they hastened to bring the net: the fishes noticed and became aware (of their intention).2205
پس شتابیدند تا دام آورند ** ماهیان واقف شدند و هوشمند