How can (that which is) the sunbeams’ object of regard be compared with (that which is) an object of regard to the Lord of the quintessence’?
کو نظرگاه شعاع آفتاب ** کو نظرگاه خداوند لباب
“Make of your souls a shield against my taking (you) captive, though (in truth) ye are my captives even now.”
از گرفت من ز جان اسپر کنید ** گرچه اکنون هم گرفتار منید
The bird tempted by the bait is (still) on the roof: with wings outspread, it is (nevertheless) imprisoned in the trap.620
مرغ فتنه دانه بر بامست او ** پر گشاده بسته‌ی دامست او
Inasmuch as with (all) its soul it has given its heart to (has become enamoured of) the bait, deem it caught, (though apparently it is still) uncaught.
چون به دانه داد او دل را به جان ** ناگرفته مر ورا بگرفته دان
Deem the looks which it is directing to the bait to be the knot that it is tying on its legs.
آن نظرها که به دانه می‌کند ** آن گره دان کو به پا برمی‌زند
The bait says, “If thou art stealing thy looks (away from me) I am stealing from thee patience and constancy.
دانه گوید گر تو می‌دزدی نظر ** من همی دزدم ز تو صبر و مقر
When those looks have drawn thee after me, then thou wilt know that I am not inattentive to thee.”
چون کشیدت آن نظر اندر پیم ** پس بدانی کز تو من غافل نیم
Story of the druggist whose balance-weight was clay for washing the head; and how a customer, who was a clay-eater, stole some of that clay covertly and secretly, whilst sugar was being weighed.
قصه‌ی عطاری کی سنگ ترازوی او گل سرشوی بود و دزدیدن مشتری گل خوار از آن گل هنگام سنجیدن شکر دزدیده و پنهان
A certain clay-eater went to a druggist to buy (a quantity of) fine hard sugar-loaf.625
پیش عطاری یکی گل‌خوار رفت ** تا خرد ابلوج قند خاص زفت
Now, at the druggist's, (who was) a crafty vigilant man, in place of the balance-weight there was clay.
پس بر عطار طرار دودل ** موضع سنگ ترازو بود گل
He said, “If you want to buy sugar, my balance-weight is clay.”