- Give the Mathnawí a free and open course, endow the outward form of its parables with the spirit (of life),
- مثنوی را مسرح مشروح ده ** صورت امثال او را روح ده
- That all its words may become reason and soul and may fly towards the soul's everlasting abode. 185
- تا حروفش جمله عقل و جان شوند ** سوی خلدستان جان پران شوند
- (’Twas) through thy efforts (that) they came from the (world of) spirits into the trap of words and were confined (there).
- هم به سعی تو ز ارواح آمدند ** سوی دام حرف و مستحقن شدند
- May thy life in the world be like (that of) Khadir, soul-increasing and help giving and perpetual!
- باد عمرت در جهان هم‌چون خضر ** جان‌فزا و دستگیر و مستمر
- Like Khadir and Ilyás, mayst thou remain in the world (for ever), that by thy grace earth may become heaven!
- چون خضر و الیاس مانی در جهان ** تا زمین گردد ز لطفت آسمان
- I would declare a hundredth part of thy grace, were it not for the vainglory of the evil eye;
- گفتمی از لطف تو جزوی ز صد ** گر نبودی طمطراق چشم بد
- But from the evil venomous eye I have suffered spirit-crushing strokes. 190
- لیک از چشم بد زهراب دم ** زخمهای روح‌فرسا خورده‌ام
- (Therefore) I will not give an eloquent description of thy state except allusively, by telling of the state of others.
- جز به رمز ذکر حال دیگران ** شرح حالت می‌نیارم در بیان
- (Really, however) this pretext too is one of the lures of the heart whereby the feet of the heart are (caught) in a mire.
- این بهانه هم ز دستان دلیست ** که ازو پاهای دل اندر گلیست
- Hundreds of hearts and souls are in love with the Maker, (but) the evil eye or the evil ear has hindered (them from seeking union with Him).
- صد دل و جان عاشق صانع شده ** چشم بد یا گوش بد مانع شده