Rumi's Masnavi - (The ascetic said), “How, then, have you the intelligence, how have you the (necessary) understanding to drink wine, O enemy of knowledge?

(The ascetic said), “How, then, have you the intelligence, how have you the (necessary) understanding to drink wine, O enemy of knowledge? 3480

پس ترا خود هوش کو یا عقل کو ** تا خوری می ای تو دانش را عدو

(If) your face is very beautiful, put some indigo on it (as an ornament); (but) indigo on the face of an Abyssinian (negro) would be a laughing-stock.

روت بس زیباست نیلی هم بکش ** ضحکه باشد نیل بر روی حبش

When did any (spiritual) light enter into you, O misguided man, that you should become a seeker of unconsciousness and darkness?

در تو نوری کی درآمد ای غوی ** تا تو بیهوشی و ظلمت‌جو شوی

’Tis the (approved) rule to seek the shadow during the day; (but) you seek the shadow on a cloudy night.

سایه در روزست جستن قاعده ** در شب ابری تو سایه‌جو شده

If it (wine) is lawful as sustenance for the common folk, (yet) it is unlawful to those who seek the Beloved.

گر حلال آمد پی قوت عوام ** طالبان دوست را آمد حرام

The wine for the lovers (of God) is their heart's blood: their eyes are (fixed) upon the Way and upon the Destination. 3485

عاشقان را باده خون دل بود ** چشمشان بر راه و بر منزل بود

In this Way across the terrible wilderness the guide, Reason, suffers a hundred eclipses.

در چنین راه بیابان مخوف ** این قلاوز خرد با صد کسوف

(If) you throw dust in the eyes of the guides, you will cause the caravan to perish and lose the way.

خاک در چشم قلاوزان زنی ** کاروان را هالک و گمره کنی

In sooth, barley bread is unlawful and injurious to the carnal soul: set (only) bread made of bran before it.

نان جو حقا حرامست و فسوس ** نفس را در پیش نه نان سبوس

Keep in abject submission the enemy on the Way to God: do not place a pulpit for the robber, (but) keep him on the gibbet.

دشمن راه خدا را خوار دار ** دزد را منبر منه بر دار دار