Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.3235
دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار
Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
(Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.3240
موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز
The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Even as (for example) that ascetic was laughing in a year of drought, while all (his) folk were weeping.
هم‌چنان کن زاهد اندر سال قحط ** بود او خندان و گریان جمله رهط
So they said to him, “What is the occasion for laughter, (when) the drought has uprooted (destroyed) the true believers?
پس بگفتندش چه جای خنده است ** قحط بیخ مومنان بر کنده است