If the stitchers of old clothes had patience and forbearance, all of them too would become stitchers of new garments through (acquisition of) knowledge.
کهنه‌دوزان گر بدیشان صبر و حلم ** جمله نودوزان شدندی هم به علم
Thou strivest much, and at last even thou thyself sayest in weariness that the intellect is a fetter,
بس بکوشی و بخر از کلال ** هم تو گویی خویش کالعقل عقال
Like the philosopher (who) on the day of his death perceived his intellect to be very poor and feeble,
هم‌چو آن مرد مفلسف روز مرگ ** عقل را می‌دید بس بی‌بال و برگ
And in that hour disinterestedly confessed (the truth), saying, “(Impelled) by acuteness of mind we galloped in vain.3355
بی‌غرض می‌کرد آن دم اعتراف ** کز ذکاوت راندیم اسپ از گزاف
In delusion we drew (scornfully) away from the holy men, we swam in the sea of phantasy.”
از غروری سر کشیدیم از رجال ** آشنا کردیم در بحر خیال
In the spiritual Sea swimming is naught (of no avail): here is no resource but the ship (ark) of Noah.
آشنا هیچست اندر بحر روح ** نیست اینجا چاره جز کشتی نوح
Thus said that king of the prophets, “I am the ship in this universal Sea,
این چنین فرمود این شاه رسل ** که منم کشتی درین دریای کل
Or that person who, in respect of my (inward) clairvoyances, has become a true vicegerent in my stead.”
یا کسی کو در بصیرتهای من ** شد خلیفه‌ی راستی بر جای من
We (saints) are the ship (ark) of Noah in the Sea, in order that thou mayst not turn thy face away from the ship, O youth.3360
کشتی نوحیم در دریا که تا ** رو نگردانی ز کشتی ای فتی
Go not, like Canaan, to every mountain: hear from the Qur’án (the warning), “There is naught that will protect (thee) to-day.”
هم‌چو کنعان سوی هر کوهی مرو ** از نبی لا عاصم الیوم شنو