- ’Tis a bounden duty to abstain from peril: hear disinterested advice from me.
- از خطر پرهیز آمد مفترض ** بشنوید از من حدیث بی‌غرض
- In seeking relief (from sorrow) ’tis better that one's wits should be sharp: ’tis better to abstain from (falling into) the ambuscade of tribulation.”
- در فرج جویی خرد سر تیز به ** از کمین‌گاه بلا پرهیز به
- If their father had not spoken these words and had not warned them against that fortress,
- گر نمی‌گفت این سخن را آن پدر ** ور نمی‌فرمود زان قلعه حذر
- Their party would never have approached the fortress, their desire would never have inclined towards it; 3655
- خود بدان قلعه نمی‌شد خیلشان ** خود نمی‌افتاد آن سو میلشان
- For it was not well-known: it was exceedingly remote and aloof from the (other) fortresses and the highways.
- کان نبد معروف بس مهجور بود ** از قلاع و از مناهج دور بود
- (But) when he (the King) uttered that prohibition, their hearts were thrown by his speech into vain desire and into the quarter of phantasy,
- چون بکرد آن منع دلشان زان مقال ** در هوس افتاد و در کوی خیال
- And, because of this prohibition, a craving arose in their hearts to investigate the secret of that (fortress).
- رغبتی زین منع در دلشان برست ** که بباید سر آن را باز جست
- Who is (to be found) that will refrain from the forbidden thing, since man longs eagerly for what is forbidden?
- کیست کز ممنوع گردد ممتنع ** چونک الانسان حریص ما منع
- The veto causes the devout to hate (that which is vetoed); the veto incites the sensual to covet it. 3660
- نهی بر اهل تقی تبغیض شد ** نهی بر اهل هوا تحریض شد
- Therefore He (God) leads many folk astray by this means, and by the same means He guides aright (many) a knowing heart.
- پس ازین یغوی به قوما کثیر ** هم ازین یهدی به قلبا خبیر