- Or dost thou suppose that thou art eating bread? Thou art eating snake-venom and (that which causes) wasting away of the spirit.
- یا تو پنداری که تو نان می‌خوری ** زهر مار و کاهش جان می‌خوری
- How should bread restore to health the spirit that averts its heart from the command of the Beloved Spirit?
- نان کجا اصلاح آن جانی کند ** کو دل از فرمان جانان بر کند
- Or dost thou suppose that when thou readest the words of the Mathnawí thou hearest them gratis (without giving aught in return)?
- یا تو پنداری که حرف مثنوی ** چون بخوانی رایگانش بشنوی
- Or that the discourse of wisdom and the hidden mystery comes easily into thy ear and mouth? 3460
- یا کلام حکمت و سر نهان ** اندر آید زغبه در گوش و دهان
- It comes in, but, like fables, it shows (only) the husk, not the kernel of the berries,
- اندر آید لیک چون افسانه‌ها ** پوست بنماید نه مغز دانه‌ها
- (As) a sweetheart who has drawn a veil over her head and face and has hidden her face from thine eye.
- در سر و رو در کشیده چادری ** رو نهان کرده ز چشمت دلبری
- By reason of contumacy the Sháhnáma or Kalíla seems to thee just like the Qur’án.
- شاه‌نامه یا کلیله پیش تو ** هم‌چنان باشد که قرآن از عتو
- The difference between truth and falsehood is (visible) at the moment when the collyrium of (Divine) favour opens the eye;
- فرق آنگه باشد از حق و مجاز ** که کند کحل عنایت چشم باز
- Otherwise, dung and musk are both the same to one whose nose is obstructed (by disease), since (in him) there is no sense of smell. 3465
- ورنه پشک و مشک پیش اخشمی ** هر دو یکسانست چون نبود شمی
- His aim is to divert himself from ennui (by reading such books), and neglect the Word of the Almighty,
- خویشتن مشغول کردن از ملال ** باشدش قصد از کلام ذوالجلال