Leave the belly and stride towards the heart (spirit), in order that the salutation may come to you from God without (any) veil.
معده را بگذار و سوی دل خرام ** تا که بی‌پرده ز حق آید سلام
Advance one or two paces, make a good endeavour: Love will lay hold of your ear and then draw (you onward).2515
یک دو گامی رو تکلف ساز خوش ** عشق گیرد گوش تو آنگاه کش
How the cunning of the fox prevailed over the desire of the ass to preserve and restrain himself (from yielding to temptation), and how the fox led the ass to the lion in the jungle.
غالب شدن حیله‌ی روباه بر استعصام و تعفف خر و کشیدن روبه خر را سوی شیر به بیشه
The fox embarked on the plot: he seized the ass's beard and led him away.
روبه اندر حیله پای خود فشرد ** ریش خر بگرفت و آن خر را ببرد
Where is the musician of that Súfí monastery, that he may quickly play the tambourine (and sing), “The ass is gone, the ass is gone”?
مطرب آن خانقه کو تا که تفت ** دف زند که خر برفت و خر برفت
Since a hare brings a lion to the well, how should not a fox lead an ass to the grass?
چونک خرگوشی برد شیری به چاه ** چون نیارد روبهی خر تا گیاه
Shut thine ear and do not swallow (beguiling) spells: (swallow naught) but the spell of the righteous saint—
گوش را بر بند و افسونها مخور ** جز فسون آن ولی دادگر
That spell of his, (which is) sweeter than halwá, that (spell) of whose feet a hundred halwá’s are (only) the dust.2520
آن فسون خوشتر از حلوای او ** آنک صد حلواست خاک پای او
The imperial jars full of the wine (of mystical knowledge) have drawn their stock from the wine of his lips.
خنبهای خسروانی پر ز می ** مایه برده از می لبهای وی
(Only) that alien soul which has never seen the wine of his ruby lips is a lover of the wine (of conventional knowledge).
عاشق می باشد آن جان بعید ** کو می لبهای لعلش را ندید
Since the blind bird does not see the sweet water, how should not it circle round the brackish water?
آب شیرین چون نبیند مرغ کور ** چون نگردد گرد چشمه‌ی آب شور