- (Even) if (all) the forest should become pens and (all) the ocean ink, (yet) there is no hope of bringing the Mathnawí to an end.
- گر شود بیشه قلم دریا مداد ** مثنوی را نیست پایانی امید
- So long as the Brick-maker's mould is (filled with) earth, the scansion of its (the Mathnawí's) poetry, too, will be kept up.
- چارچوب خشت‌زن تا خاک هست ** می‌دهد تقطیع شعرش نیز دست
- When earth remains no more and He (God) dries (withers and destroys) its existence, His sea when it foams will make (fresh) earth. 2250
- چون نماند خاک و بودش جف کند ** خاک سازد بحر او چون کف کند
- When the forest remains no more and disappears (from existence), (other) forests will raise their heads from the essence of the Sea.
- چون نماند بیشه و سر در کشد ** بیشه‌ها از عین دریا سر کشد
- Hence that Lord of relief (from sorrow) said, “Relate Traditions (drawn) from our Sea, since there is no harm (in doing so).”
- بهر این گفت آن خداوند فرج ** حدثوا عن بحرنا اذ لا حرج
- (Now) turn back from the Sea and set thy face towards dry land: talk only of the plaything, for it is better (more suitable) for the child,
- باز گرد از بحر و رو در خشک نه ** هم ز لعبت گو که کودک‌راست به
- So that in his boyhood, (advancing) little by little beyond the plaything, his spirit may become acquainted with the ocean of Reason.
- تا ز لعبت اندک اندک در صبا ** جانش گردد با یم عقل آشنا
- By means of that play the boy is (gradually) acquiring reason, though superficially it (his play) is repugnant (to reason). 2255
- عقل از آن بازی همی‌یابد صبی ** گرچه با عقلست در ظاهر ابی
- How can a demented child play? There must be (in the child) a part (of reason) in order that it (the part) may attain to the whole.
- کودک دیوانه بازی کی کند ** جزو باید تا که کل را فی کند
- Returning to the Story of the dome and the treasure.
- رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی قبه و گنج
- Lo, the idea of that fakir with (his cries) “Come! come!” has rendered me unfeignedly (really) unable (to resist his appeal).
- نک خیال آن فقیرم بی‌ریا ** عاجز آورد از بیا و از بیا