- Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
- ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
- In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
- اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
- How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
- اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
- First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.
- اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
- Deem your form to be the tent, your real essence the Turcoman, regard your essence as the sailor, your form as the ship. 530
- صورتت خرگاه دان معنیت ترک ** معنیت ملاح دان صورت چو فلک
- For God’s sake, quit this (topic) for a moment, so that the Khwaja’s ass may shake its bell (proceed on its journey).
- بهر حق این را رها کن یک نفس ** تا خر خواجه بجنباند جرس
- How the Khwaja and his family went to the country.
- رفتن خواجه و قومش به سوی ده
- The Khwaja and his children prepared an outfit and galloped on their beasts towards the country.
- خواجه و بچگان جهازی ساختند ** بر ستوران جانب ده تاختند
- Merrily they rode a field; they chanted, “Travel, that ye may gain advantage”;
- شادمانه سوی صحرا راندند ** سافروا کی تغنموا بر خواندند
- For by traveling the moon becomes (splendid, like) Kay Khusraw: how should it become an emperor (khusraw) without traveling?
- کز سفرها ماه کیخسرو شود ** بی سفرها ماه کی خسرو شود
- Through travel the pawn becomes a noble queen, and through travel Joseph gained a hundred objects of desire. 535
- از سفر بیدق شود فرزین راد ** وز سفر یابید یوسف صد مراد
- By day they scorched their faces in the sun, by night they were learning the away from the stars.
- روز روی از آفتابی سوختند ** شب ز اختر راه میآموختند
- The bad road to them seemed good: from (their) delight in the country the road seemed like Paradise.
- خوب گشته پیش ایشان راه زشت ** از نشاط ده شده ره چون بهشت
- From sweet-lipped ones (even) bitterness becomes sweet; from the rose-garden (even) thorns become charming.
- تلخ از شیرینلبان خوش میشود ** خار از گلزار دلکش میشود
- Colocynth turns into dates (when it comes) from the beloved; the (narrow) house is made (like) spacious fields by the house-mate.
- حنظل از معشوق خرما میشود ** خانه از همخانه صحرا میشود
- Oh, (there is) many a dainty youth that suffers thorns (of anguish) in the hope of (winning) a rose-cheeked moon-like (sweetheart). 540
- ای بسا از نازنینان خارکش ** بر امید گلعذار ماهوش
- Oh, (there is) many a porter, his back torn with wounds for the sake of the moon-faced one to whom he has lost his heart.
- ای بسا حمال گشته پشتریش ** از برای دلبر مهروی خویش
- The ironsmith has blackened his beauty, that (when) night comes he may kissthe face of (a beloved like) the moon.
- کرده آهنگر جمال خود سیاه ** تا که شب آید ببوسد روی ماه
- The merchant (sits), racked, on a bench (in his shop) till nightfall, because (some one tall and slender as) a cypress has taken root in his heart.
- خواجه تا شب بر دکانی چار میخ ** زانک سروی در دلش کردست بیخ
- A trader is faring over sea and land: he runs (makes those swift journeys) for live of one who sits at home.
- تاجری دریا و خشکی میرود ** آن بمهر خانهشینی میدود
- Whoever has a passion for that which is dead, ‘tis in hope of (gaining) one who has the features of the living. 545
- هر که را با مرده سودایی بود ** بر امید زندهسیمایی بود
- The carpenter turns his face (attention) to wood, in the hope of rendering service to a fair one whose face is like the moon.
- آن دروگر روی آورده به چوب ** بر امید خدمت مهروی خوب
- Do thou exert thyself in hope of the Living One who does not become lifeless after a day or two!
- بر امید زندهای کن اجتهاد ** کو نگردد بعد روزی دو جماد
- Do not from meanness choose a mean person as thy friend: that friendship in him is borrowed (unessential).
- مونسی مگزین خسی را از خسی ** عاریت باشد درو آن مونسی
- If thy friends other than God possess constancy (permanence), where is thy friendship with the mother and father?
- انس تو با مادر و بابا کجاست ** گر بجز حق مونسانت را وفاست
- If any one but God is worthy to be relied upon, what has become of thy friendship with thy nurse and tutor? 550
- انس تو با دایه و لالا چه شد ** گر کسی شاید بغیر حق عضد