A briny water is no remedy for thirst: (even) if it seem cold and delicious at the moment of drinking,
آب شوری نیست در مان عطش ** وقت خوردن گر نماید سرد و خوش
Yet it beguiles (you) and prevents (you) from seeking the sweet water by which a hundred plants are made to grow.
لیک خادع گشته و مانع شد ز جست ** ز آب شیرینی کزو صد سبزه رست
Likewise every piece of spurious gold prevents (you) from recognising the good (genuine) gold wherever it is (to be found).
هم‌چنین هر زر قلبی مانعست ** از شناس زر خوش هرجا که هست
It (the spurious gold) cuts off your feet and (clips) your wings by imposture, saying, “I am what you seek: take me, O seeker.”
پا و پرت را به تزویری برید ** که مراد تو منم گیر ای مرید
It says, “I will remove thy passion,” (but) in truth it is (worthless as) dregs: it is (really) checkmate (defeat) though it is victory in appearance.4310
گفت دردت چینم او خود درد بود ** مات بود ار چه به ظاهر برد بود
Go, always be fleeing from the false remedy, in order that thy passion may be successful and rich in perfume.
رو ز درمان دروغین می‌گریز ** تا شود دردت مصیب و مشک‌بیز
He (the night-patrol) said, “You are not a thief and you are not a reprobate: you are a good man, but you are foolish and silly.
گفت نه دزدی تو و نه فاسقی ** مرد نیکی لیک گول و احمقی
You make such a long journey, (relying) on a phantasy and (mere) dream: your intelligence has not the least spark of brightness.
بر خیال و خواب چندین ره کنی ** نیست عقلت را تسوی روشنی
I have dreamed many times, continuously, that there is a concealed treasure at Baghdád,
بارها من خواب دیدم مستمر ** که به بغدادست گنجی مستتر
Buried in such-and-such a quarter and such-and-such a street” —the name, in fact, was that of the street where this sorrowful man lived.4315
در فلان سوی و فلان کویی دفین ** بود آن خود نام کوی این حزین