Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road!505
یا بود اشتردلی چون دید ترس ** گوید او بهر رجوع از راه درس
By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.
یار را ترسان کند ز اشتردلی ** این چنین همره عدو دان نه ولی
The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
راه جان‌بازیست و در هر غیشه‌ای ** آفتی در دفع هر جان‌شیشه‌ای
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.
راه دین زان رو پر از شور و شرست ** که نه راه هر مخنث گوهرست
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
در ره این ترس امتحانهای نفوس ** هم‌چو پرویزن به تمییز سبوس
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.510
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
گیرم آن گرگت نیابد ز احتیاط ** بی ز جمعیت نیابی آن نشاط
He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey—(if he goes) with companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.
آنک تنها در رهی او خوش رود ** با رفیقان سیر او صدتو شود
Notwithstanding the grossness of the ass, it (the ass) is exhilarated, O dervish, by comrades (of its own kind) and becomes capable of (exerting) strength.
با غلیظی خر ز یاران ای فقیر ** در نشاط آید شود قوت‌پذیر
To any ass that goes alone (and away) from the caravan the road is (made) a hundredfold (longer) by fatigue.
هر خری کز کاروان تنها رود ** بر وی آن راه از تعب صدتو شود