Be not thou inferior to a bird in (thy) seeking: (even) a sparrow sees (what is) before and behind.
تو کم از مرغی مباش اندر نشید ** بین ایدی خلف عصفوری بدید
When it approaches the grain (bait), at that moment it turns its head and face several times to front and rear,
چون به نزد دانه آید پیش و پس ** چند گرداند سر و رو آن نفس
(As though to say), ‘Oh, I wonder whether there is a fowler in front of me or behind, so that for fear of him I should abstain from this food.’755
کای عجب پیش و پسم صیاد هست ** تا کشم از بیم او زین لقمه دست
Do thou see behind (thee) the story of (what happened to) the wicked; see before (thee) the death of (many a) friend and neighbour,
تو ببین پس قصه‌ی فجار را ** پیش بنگر مرگ یار و جار را
Whom He (God) destroyed without (using) any instrument: He is close to thee in every circumstance.
که هلاکت دادشان بی‌آلتی ** او قرین تست در هر حالتی
God inflicted torment (on them), and there is no mace or hand (employed): know, then, that God is one who deals justice (inflicts chastisement) without hands.
حق شکنجه کرد و گرز و دست نیست ** پس بدان بی‌دست حق داورکنیست
He who was saying, ‘If God exists, where is He?’ was confessing on the rack (of pain) that ’tis He (God).
آنک می‌گفتی اگر حق هست کو ** در شکنجه او مقر می‌شد که هو
He who was saying, ‘This is far-fetched and marvellous’ was shedding tears and crying, ‘O Thou who art nigh!’760
آنک می‌گفت این بعیدست و عجیب ** اشک می‌راند و همی گفت ای قریب
Since he has deemed it necessary to flee from the trap, (’tis strange that) the trap for thee is in fact stuck fast to thy (gaudy) feathers.
چون فرار از دام واجب دیده است ** دام تو خود بر پرت چفسیده است
I will tear out the pin of this ill-fated trap: I will not suffer bitter grief for the sake of (indulging) a desire.
بر کنم من میخ این منحوس دام ** از پی کامی نباشم طلخ‌کام