Rumi's Masnavi - In particular, I, who have a bad name, was not evil-natured (in regard to you): what you saw was nothing evil, it was (only) a magic spell;

In particular, I, who have a bad name, was not evil-natured (in regard to you): what you saw was nothing evil, it was (only) a magic spell;

خصاه من بدرگ نبودم زشت‌اسم ** آنک دیدی بد نبد بود آن طلسم

And if, hypothetically, that purpose (of mine) had been evil, (still) friends pardon such a fault.”

ور بدی بد آن سگالش قدرا ** عفو فرمایند یاران زان خطا

The world of imagination and the phantom of hope and fear is a great obstacle to the traveller (on the mystic Way).

عالم وهم و خیال طمع و بیم ** هست ره‌رو را یکی سدی عظیم

The pictures (illusions) of this picture-making phantasy were harmful (even) to one like Khalíl (Abraham), who was (firm as) a mountain.

نقشهای این خیال نقش‌بند ** چون خلیلی را که که بد شد گزند

The noble Abraham said, “This is my Lord,” when he fell into the world (fell under the sway) of imagination. 2650

گفت هذا ربی ابراهیم راد ** چونک اندر عالم وهم اوفتاد

That person who bored the pearl of interpretation, interpreted the mention of the star thus—

ذکر کوکب را چنین تاویل گفت ** آن کسی که گوهر تاویل سفت

(That) the world of imagination and blinding phantasy uprooted such a mountain (of wisdom) from its foundation,

عالم وهم و خیال چشم‌بند ** آنچنان که را ز جای خویش کند

So that the words, “This is my Lord,” were uttered by him: what, (then), must be the case with a goose or an ass?

تا که هذا ربی آمد قال او ** خربط و خر را چه باشد حال او

Understandings (strong) as mountains have been submerged in the seas of imagination and the whirlpools of phantasy.

غرق گشته عقلهای چون جبال ** در بحار وهم و گرداب خیال

Mountains are put to shame by this Flood: where is any safety (to be found) but in the Ship (Ark) of Noah? 2655

کوهها را هست زین طوفان فضوح ** کو امانی جز که در کشتی نوح