Rumi's Masnavi - For he had rubbed the dog’s dung on his palm: he had deemed it (to be) the remedy for the polluted brain.

For he had rubbed the dog’s dung on his palm: he had deemed it (to be) the remedy for the polluted brain.

کو به کف سرگین سگ ساییده بود ** داروی مغز پلید آن دیده بود

A short while passed: the man began to move: the people said, “This was a wonderful charm;

ساعتی شد مرد جنبیدن گرفت ** خلق گفتند این فسونی بد شگفت

For this (youth) recited charms and breathed (them) into his ear: he was dead: the charms came to succour him.”

کین بخواند افسون به گوش او دمید ** مرده بود افسون به فریادش رسید

The movement of iniquitous folk is to the quarter in which there is fornication and ogling glances and eyebrows.

جنبش اهل فساد آن سو بود ** که زنا و غمزه و ابرو بود

Any one to whom the musk, admonition, is of no use must necessarily make himself familiar with the bad smell. 295

هر کرا مشک نصیحت سود نیست ** لا جرم با بوی بد خو کردنیست

God has called the polytheists najas (uncleanness)’ for the reason that they were born in dung from of old.

مشرکان را زان نجس خواندست حق ** کاندرون پشک زادند از سبق

The worm that has been born in dung will nevermore change its evil nature by means of ambergris.

کرم کو زادست در سرگین ابد ** می‌نگرداند به عنبر خوی خود

Since the largesse of sprinkled light did not strike upon him (the wicked man), he is wholly body, without heart (spirit), like (empty) husks.

چون نزد بر وی نثار رش نور ** او همه جسمست بی‌دل چون قشور

And if God gave him a portion of the sprinkled light, the dung hatched a bird, as is the custom in Egypt— so

ور ز رش نور حق قسمیش داد ** هم‌چو رسم مصر سرگین مرغ‌زاد

But not the cheap domestic fowl; nay, but the bird of know ledge and wisdom. 300

لیک نه مرغ خسیس خانگی ** بلک مرغ دانش و فرزانگی