Every (material) star hath its house on high: our star is not contained in any house.115
هر ستاره خانه دارد در علا ** هیچ خانه در نگنجد نجم ما
How should that which burns (transcends) place (spatial relations) enter into space? How should there be a limit for the illimitable light?
جای سوز اندر مکان کی در رود ** نور نامحدود را حد کی بود
But they (the mystics) use a comparison and illustration, in order that a loving feeble-minded man may apprehend (the truth).
لیک تمثیلی و تصویری کنند ** تا که در یابد ضعیفی عشقمند
’Tis not a simile, but ’tis a parable for the purpose of releasing (melting) the frozen intellect.
مثل نبود لیک باشد آن مثال ** تا کند عقل مجمد را گسیل
The intellect is strong in the head but weak in the legs, because it is sick of heart (spiritually decayed) though sound of body (materially flourishing).
عقل سر تیزست لیکن پای سست ** زانک دل ویران شدست و تن درست
Their (the unspiritual men's) intellect is deeply involved in the dessert (pleasures) of this world: never, never do they think of abandoning sensuality.120
عقلشان در نقل دنیا پیچ پیچ ** فکرشان در ترک شهوت هیچ هیچ
In the hour of pretension their breasts are (glowing) like the orient sun, (but) in the hour of pious devotion their endurance is (brief) as the lightning.
صدرشان در وقت دعوی هم‌چو شرق ** صبرشان در وقت تقوی هم‌چو برق
A learned man who shows self-conceit in (displaying) his talents is faithless as the world at the time for keeping faith.
عالمی اندر هنرها خودنما ** هم‌چو عالم بی‌وفا وقت وفا
At the time when he regards himself (with pride) he is not contained in the world: he has become lost in the gullet and belly, like bread.
وقت خودبینی نگنجد در جهان ** در گلو و معده گم گشته چو نان
(Yet) all these (evil) qualities of theirs may become good: evil does not remain when it turns to seeking good.
این همه اوصافشان نیکو شود ** بد نماند چونک نیکوجو شود