Rumi's Masnavi - He (the fool) sees (what he thinks is) candy: it is, in sooth, deadly poison; he sees (what he thinks is) the road: it is, in sooth, the cry of the ghoul (luring him to destruction).

He (the fool) sees (what he thinks is) candy: it is, in sooth, deadly poison; he sees (what he thinks is) the road: it is, in sooth, the cry of the ghoul (luring him to destruction). 2310

قند بیند خود شود زهر قتول ** راه بیند خود بود آن بانگ غول‏

O sky, in the tribulation of (these) latter days thou art revolving swiftly; pray, give (us) time (respite and relief).

ای فلک در فتنه‏ی آخر زمان ** تیز می‏گردی بده آخر زمان‏

Thou art a keen dagger to assail us; thou art a poisoned lancet to bleed us.

خنجر تیزی تو اندر قصد ما ** نیش زهر آلوده‏ای در فصد ما

O sky, learn mercy from the Mercy of God: do not, like a snake, inflict wounds on the hearts of ants.

ای فلک از رحم حق آموز رحم ** بر دل موران مزن چون مار زخم‏

By the truth of Him who hath set the wheel of thy sphere turning above this (earthly) abode,

حق آن که چرخه‏ی چرخ ترا ** کرد گردان بر فراز این سرا

(We beseech thee to) revolve in another wise and show mercy, ere thou uproot us. 2315

که دگرگون گردی و رحمت کنی ** پیش از آن که بیخ ما را بر کنی‏

(We beseech thee by) the truth of thy having fostered us at first, so that our (young) shoot grew up from (the nurture given by) water and earth;

حق آن که دایگی کردی نخست ** تا نهال ما ز آب و خاک رست‏

By the truth of that King who created thee pure and displayed so many cressets in thee,

حق آن شه که ترا صاف آفرید ** کرد چندان مشعله در تو پدید

Who hath kept thee so flourishing and lasting that the materialist hath thought thee (existent) from eternity.

آن چنان معمور و باقی داشتت ** تا که دهری از ازل پنداشتت‏

Thanks (to God), we have come to know thy beginning: the prophets have told that secret of thine.

شکر دانستیم آغاز ترا ** انبیا گفتند آن راز ترا

A man knows that a house is made (at some time or other); the spider which plays idly in it (knows) not (this). 2320

آدمی داند که خانه حادث است ** عنکبوتی نه که در وی عابث است‏

How should the gnat know of what date this garden is?––for ‘twas born in spring, and its death is in the (following) winter.

پشه کی داند که این باغ از کی است ** کاو بهاران زاد و مرگش در دی است‏

The worm that is born miserably in (dry) wood––how should it know the wood at the time when it was a (sappy) shoot?

کرم کاندر چوب زاید سست حال ** کی بداند چوب را وقت نهال‏

And if the worm should know (this), it would be intellect in its essential substance; the worm would be (only) its (outward) form.

ور بداند کرم از ماهیتش ** عقل باشد کرم باشد صورتش‏

Intellect shows itself (in many) guises, (but) like the Jinn is leagues removed from them (in its real nature).

عقل خود را می‏نماید رنگها ** چون پری دور است از آن فرسنگ‏ها

It is above the angels––what occasion is there for (comparing it with) the Jinn? (But) you have the wings of a gnat, you are flying downwards. 2325

از ملک بالاست چه جای پری ** تو مگس پری به پستی می‏پری‏

Although your intellect is flying upward, the bird of your conventional notions is feeding below.

گر چه عقلت سوی بالا می‏پرد ** مرغ تقلیدت به پستی می‏چرد

Conventional knowledge is the bane of our souls; it is a borrowed thing, but we rest (at ease in the belief) that it is ours.

علم تقلیدی وبال جان ماست ** عاریه ست و ما نشسته کان ماست‏

It behoves us to become ignorant of this (worldly) wisdom; (rather) must we clutch at madness.

زین خرد جاهل همی باید شدن ** دست در دیوانگی باید زدن‏

Always flee from whatever you deem profitable to your (lower) self: drink poison and spill the water of life.

هر چه بینی سود خود ز آن می‏گریز ** زهر نوش و آب حیوان را بریز

Revile any one that praises you: lend (both) interest and capital to the destitute. 2330

هر که بستاند ترا دشنام ده ** سود و سرمایه به مفلس وام ده‏

Let safety go, and dwell in the place of fear (danger): leave reputation behind and be disgraced and notorious.

ایمنی بگذار و جای خوف باش ** بگذر از ناموس و رسوا باش و فاش‏

I have tried far-thinking (provident) intellect; henceforth I will make myself mad.

آزمودم عقل دور اندیش را ** بعد از این دیوانه سازم خویش را

How Dalqak excused himself to the Sayyid-i Ajall (who asked him) why he had married a harlot.

عذر گفتن دلقک با سید که چرا فاحشه را نکاح کرد

One night the Sayyid-i Ajall said to Dalqak, “You have married a harlot in haste.

گفت با دلقک شبی سید اجل ** قحبه‏ای را خواستی تو از عجل‏

You ought to have disclosed this (matter) to me, so that we might have made a chaste (woman) your wife.”

با من این را باز می‏بایست گفت ** تا یکی مستور کردیمیت جفت‏