But some have set their face towards the tail and have lost the Head, although the Head is the principal;
لیک بعضی رو سوی دم کرده‌اند ** گرچه سر اصلست سر گم کرده‌اند
But (nevertheless) that Head is bestowing on these lost and erring ones the bounty proper to Headship by way of the tail.
لیک آن سر پیش این ضالان گم ** می‌دهد داد سری از راه دم
That one obtains the bounty from the Head, this one from the tail; another company (of mystics) have lost (both) foot and head.
آن ز سر می‌یابد آن داد این ز دم ** قوم دیگر پا و سر کردند گم
Since all has been lost, they have gained all: through dwindling away (to naught) they have sped towards the Whole.
چونک گم شد جمله جمله یافتند ** از کم آمد سوی کل بشتافتند
How in the pavilion of the fortress adorned with pictures they (the princes) saw a portrait of the daughter of the King of China and how all three lost their senses and fell into distraction and made inquiries, asking, “Whose portrait is this?”
دیدن ایشان در قصر این قلعه‌ی ذات الصور نقش روی دختر شاه چین را و بیهوش شدن هر سه و در فتنه افتادن و تفحص کردن کی این صورت کیست
This topic is endless. The company (of three) espied a beauteous and majestic portrait.3760
این سخن پایان ندارد آن گروه ** صورتی دیدند با حسن و شکوه
The (travelling) party had seen (pictures) more beautiful than that, but at (the sight of) this one they were plunged in the deep sea,
خوب‌تر زان دیده بودند آن فریق ** لیک زین رفتند در بحر عمیق
Because opium came to them in this cup: the cups are visible, but the opium is unseen.