He replied, “I know you, O Bu ’l-Hasan, to be one who has long deemed me an enemy;
گفت می‌دانم ترا ای بوالحسن ** که توی دیرینه دشمن‌دار من
But you are a reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow you to go crookedly (play false).”
لیک مرد عاقلی و معنوی ** عقل تو نگذاردت که کژ روی
The (carnal) nature desires to take revenge on its adversary: the reason is an iron chain upon the flesh.
طبع خواهد تا کشد از خصم کین ** عقل بر نفس است بند آهنین
It comes and prevents it (the flesh) and restrains it: the reason is like a police-inspector for it in its good and evil (actions).1985
آید و منعش کند وا داردش ** عقل چون شحنه‌ست در نیک و بدش
The reason that is allied to Faith is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian and magistrate of the city of the heart.
عقل ایمانی چو شحنه‌ی عادلست ** پاسبان و حاکم شهر دلست
It is mentally alert like a cat: the thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
هم‌چو گربه باشد او بیدارهوش ** دزد در سوراخ ماند هم‌چو موش
Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
در هر آنجا که برآرد موش دست ** نیست گربه یا که نقش گربه است
What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
گربه‌ی چه شیر شیرافکن بود ** عقل ایمانی که اندر تن بود
Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.1990
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل
The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود
That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.1995
این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای
On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی
(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار
Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.
صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر
If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.
گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی