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
How should the friendly dove be scared by the (fowler's) pipe? Nay, (only) the (wild) doves in the air are scared by that pipe.
کی رمد از نی حمام آشنا ** بل رمد زان نی حمامات هوا
Then they (the princes) said to him (the King), “We will perform the services (required of us), we will be intent on hearing and obeying (thy commands).
پس بگفتندش که خدمتها کنیم ** بر سمعنا و اطعناها تنیم
We will not turn aside from thy commands: ’twould be ingratitude to forget thy kindness”;
رو نگردانیم از فرمان تو ** کفر باشد غفلت از احسان تو
But, because of their reliance upon themselves, ’twas far from them to pronounce the saving clause and glorify God.3665
لیک استثنا و تسبیح خدا ** ز اعتماد خود بد از ایشان جدا
Mention of the saving clause and (of the need for) manifold precaution was made at the beginning of the Mathnawí.
ذکر استثنا و حزم ملتوی ** گفته شد در ابتدای مثنوی
If there are a hundred (religious) books, (yet) they are but one chapter: a hundred (different) regions seek but one place of worship.
صد کتاب ار هست جز یک باب نیست ** صد جهت را قصد جز محراب نیست