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
We have lightly esteemed the King's word and those incomparable favours.
سهل دانستیم قول شاه را ** وان عنایت‌های بی اشباه را
Lo, we all are fallen into the moat, killed and wounded by affliction without combat.3780
نک در افتادیم در خندق همه ** کشته و خسته‌ی بلا بی ملحمه
We relied on our own intelligence and wisdom, so that this tribulation has come to pass.
تکیه بر عقل خود و فرهنگ خویش ** بودمان تا این بلا آمد به پیش
We regarded ourselves as being without disease and emancipated (from fear of death), just as one suffering from phthisis regards himself.
بی‌مرض دیدیم خویش و بی ز رق ** آنچنان که خویش را بیمار دق
Now, after we have been made prisoners and a prey, the hidden malady has become apparent.”
علت پنهان کنون شد آشکار ** بعد از آنک بند گشتیم و شکار
The shadow (protection) of the (spiritual) Guide is better than praising God (by one's self): a single (feeling of) contentment is better than a hundred viands and trays (of food).
سایه‌ی رهبر بهست از ذکر حق ** یک قناعت به که صد لوت و طبق
A seeing eye is better than three hundred (blind men's) staves: the eye knows (can distinguish) pearls from pebbles.3785
چشم بینا بهتر از سیصد عصا ** چشم بشناسد گهر را از حصا
(Moved) by sorrows (pains of love) they began to make inquiry, saying, “Who in the world, we wonder, is she of whom this is the portrait?”
در تفحص آمدند از اندهان ** صورت کی بود عجب این در جهان