These material motes, O profitable man, are visible in the presence of this material sun.
هست این ذرات جسمی ای مفید ** پیش این خورشید جسمانی پدید
(So too) the motes consisting of ideas and thought are manifest in the presence of the Sun of Realities.
هست ذرات خواطر و افتکار ** پیش خورشید حقایق آشکار
Story of the fowler who had wrapped himself in grass and drawn over his head a handful of roses and red anemones, like a cap, in order that the birds might think he was grass. The clever bird had some little notion that he was (really) a man, and said (to itself), “I have never seen grass of this shape”; but it did not wholly apprehend (the truth) and was deceived by his guile, because at the first view it had no decisive argument, (whereas) on its second view of the trick it had a decisive argument, namely, cupidity and greed, (which are) especially (potent) at the time of excessive want and poverty. The Prophet—God bless and save him!—has said that poverty is almost infidelity.
حکایت آن صیادی کی خویشتن در گیاه پیچیده بود و دستهی گل و لاله را کلهوار به سر فرو کشیده تا مرغان او را گیاه پندارند و آن مرغ زیرک بوی برد اندکی کی این آدمیست کی برین شکل گیاه ندیدم اما هم تمام بوی نبرد به افسون او مغرور شد زیرا در ادراک اول قاطعی نداشت در ادراک مکر دوم قاطعی داشت و هو الحرص و الطمع لا سیما عند فرط الحاجة و الفقر قال النبی صلی الله علیه و سلم کاد الفقر ان یکون کفرا
A bird went into a meadow: there was a trap (set) for the purpose of fowling.435
رفت مرغی در میان مرغزار ** بود آنجا دام از بهر شکار
Some grain had been placed on the ground, and the fowler was ensconced there in ambush.
دانهی چندی نهاده بر زمین ** وآن صیاد آنجا نشسته در کمین
He had wrapped himself in leaves and grass, that the wretched prey might slip off from the path (of safety).
خویشتن پیچیده در برگ و گیاه ** تا در افتد صید بیچاره ز راه
A little bird approached him in ignorance (of his disguise): then it hopped round and ran up to the man,
مرغک آمد سوی او از ناشناخت ** پس طوافی کرد و پیش مرد تاخت
And said to him, “Who are you, clad in green in the desert amidst (all) these wild animals?”
گفت او را کیستی تو سبزپوش ** در بیابان در میان این وحوش
He replied, “I am an ascetic severed (from mankind): I have become content (to live) here with some grass.440
گفت مرد زاهدم من منقطع ** با گیاهی گشتم اینجا مقتنع
I adopted asceticism and piety as my religion and practice because I saw before me the appointed end of my life.
زهد و تقوی را گزیدم دین و کیش ** زانک میدیدم اجل را پیش خویش
My neighbour's death had given me warning and upset my (worldly) business and shop.
مرگ همسایه مرا واعظ شده ** کسب و دکان مرا برهم زده