For eight years I did not inquire after thee at all, because I saw thee (to be) full of ignorance, fold on fold.
هشت سالت زان نپرسیدم به هیچ ** که پرت دیدم ز جهل پیچ پیچ
Why, indeed, should I inquire after one who is in t he bath-stove (of lust), and say (to him) ‘How art thou?’ when he is (plunged) headlong (in sensuality)?
خود چه پرسم آنک او باشد بتون ** که تو چونی چون بود او سرنگون
Comparison of this world to a bath-stove and of piety to the bath.
مثال دنیا چون گولخن و تقوی چون حمام
The lust of this world is like the bath-stove by which the bath, piety, is (made) resplendent;
شهوت دنیا مثال گلخنست ** که ازو حمام تقوی روشنست
But the pious man's portion from this stove is (naught but) purity, because he is in the hot-bath and in cleanliness.
لیک قسم متقی زین تون صفاست ** زانک در گرمابه است و در نقاست
The rich resemble those who carry dung for the bath-keeper's fire-making.240
اغنیا ماننده‌ی سرگین‌کشان ** بهر آتش کردن گرمابه‌بان
God hath implanted cupidity in them, in order that the bath may be hot and well-provided.
اندریشان حرص بنهاده خدا ** تا بود گرمابه گرم و با نوا
Abandon this stove and advance into the hot-bath: know that abandonment of the stove is the very essence of that bath.
ترک این تون گوی و در گرمابه ران ** ترک تون را عین آن گرمابه دان
Any one who is in the stove is as a servant to him that is self-denying and on his guard.
هر که در تونست او چون خادمست ** مر ورا که صابرست و حازمست
Whosoever has entered the bath, his (characteristic) sign is visible upon his comely face.
هر که در حمام شد سیمای او ** هست پیدا بر رخ زیبای او
The signs of the stokers are conspicuous too—in their dress and in the smoke and dust (which blacken them).245
تونیان را نیز سیما آشکار ** از لباس و از دخان و از غبار