Now we see (what) the King saw at the beginning. How often did that peerless one adjure us!”
ما کنون دیدیم شه ز آغاز دید ** چندمان سوگند داد آن بی‌ندید
The prophets have conferred a great obligation (on us) because they have made us aware of the end,3770
انبیا را حق بسیارست از آن ** که خبر کردند از پایانمان
Saying, “That which thou art sowing will produce naught but thorns; and (if) thou fly in this (worldly) direction thou wilt find there no room to fly (beyond).
کاینچ می‌کاری نروید جز که خار ** وین طرف پری نیابی زو مطار
Get the seed from me, that it may yield a (good) crop; fly with my wings, that the arrow may speed Yonder.
تخم از من بر که تا ریعی دهد ** با پر من پر که تیر آن سو جهد
(If) thou dost not recognise the necessity and (real) existence of that (flight to God), yet in the end thou wilt confess that it was necessary.”
تو ندانی واجبی آن و هست ** هم تو گویی آخر آن واجب بدست
He (the prophet) is thou, but not this (unreal) “thou”: (he is) that “thou” which in the end is conscious of escape (from the world of illusion).
او توست اما نه این تو آن توست ** که در آخر واقف بیرون‌شوست
Thy last (unreal) “thou” has come to thy first (real) “thou” to receive admonition and gifts.3775
توی آخر سوی توی اولت ** آمدست از بهر تنبیه و صلت
Thy (real) “thou” is buried in another (unreal “thou”): I am the (devoted) slave of a man who thus (truly) sees himself.
توی تو در دیگری آمد دفین ** من غلام مرد خودبینی چنین
That which the youth sees in the mirror the Elder sees beforehand in the (crude iron) brick.
آنچ در آیینه می‌بیند جوان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن
(The princes said), “We have transgressed the command of our King, we have rebelled against the favours of our father.
ز امر شاه خویش بیرون آمدیم ** با عنایات پدر یاغی شدیم