Rumi's Masnavi - (And) like one who, having no wheat, goes to a mill: nothing will be given to him except the whitening of his beard and hair (with flour).

(And) like one who, having no wheat, goes to a mill: nothing will be given to him except the whitening of his beard and hair (with flour).

هم‌چو بی‌گندم شده در آسیا ** جز سپیدی ریش و مو نبود عطا

The celestial mill bestows on those who have no wheat (only) whiteness of hair and weakness in the loins;

آسیای چرخ بر بی‌گندمان ** موسپیدی بخشد و ضعف میان

But on those who bring wheat with them this mill bestows empire and gives them sovereign power.

لیک با باگندمان این آسیا ** ملک‌بخش آمد دهد کار و کیا

You must first be qualified for Paradise in order that from Paradise the (everlasting) life may be born to you.

اول استعداد جنت بایدت ** تا ز جنت زندگانی زایدت

What pleasure has the new-born child in wine and roast-meat and palaces and domes? 4435

طفل نو را از شراب و از کباب ** چه حلاوت وز قصور و از قباب

These parables have no limit: do not seek (more) words (of this kind): go and acquire capability!

حد ندارد این مثل کم جو سخن ** تو برو تحصیل استعداد کن

(The announcer said), “He tarried until now for the sake of capability (qualification), (but) ere it was acquired his longing burst (all) bounds.”

بهر استعداد تا اکنون نشست ** شوق از حد رفت و آن نامد به دست

He (the prince) said, “Capability too is imparted by the King: how should the body be made capable without (the intervention of) the soul?”

گفت استعداد هم از شه رسد ** بی ز جان کی مستعد گردد جسد

(Then) the favours of the King did away with his anguish: he had gone to hunt the King: he became the King's prey.

لطف‌های شه غمش را در نوشت ** شد که صید شه کند او صید گشت

(The announcer said), “Whosoever goes in chase of a quarry like thee does not catch his quarry till he is himself caught.” 4440

هر که در اشکار چون تو صید شد ** صید را ناکرده قید او قید شد