His heart seeks the darkness of perplexity in order that his acquirements may seem greater (than they are),
ظلمت اشکال زان جوید دلش ** تا که افزون‌تر نماید حاصلش
So that he may preoccupy you with that difficult question and make you oblivious of his own evil nature.
تا ترا مشغول آن مشکل کند ** وز نهاد زشت خود غافل کند
The marks of the wholly intelligent and the half-intelligent and the whole man and the half-man and the deluded worthless wretch doomed to perdition.
علامت عاقل تمام و نیم‌عاقل و مرد تمام و نیم‌مرد و علامت شقی مغرور لاشی
The intelligent man is he who hath the lamp: he is the guide and leader of the caravan.
عاقل آن باشد که او با مشعله‌ست ** او دلیل و پیشوای قافله‌ست
That leader is one who goes after his own light: that selfless traveller is the follower of himself.
پیرو نور خودست آن پیش‌رو ** تابع خویشست آن بی‌خویش‌رو
He is the one that puts faith in himself; and do ye too put faith in the light on which his soul has browsed.2190
مومن خویشست و ایمان آورید ** هم بدان نوری که جانش زو چرید
The other, who is the half-intelligent, deems an (entirely) intelligent person to be his eye,
دیگری که نیم‌عاقل آمد او ** عاقلی را دیده‌ی خود داند او
And has clutched him as the blind man clutches the guide, so that through him he has become seeing and active and illustrious.
دست در وی زد چو کور اندر دلیل ** تا بدو بینا شد و چست و جلیل
But (as for) the ass who had not a single barley-corn's weight of intelligence, who possessed no intelligence himself and forsook the intelligent (guide),
وآن خری کز عقل جوسنگی نداشت ** خود نبودش عقل و عاقل را گذاشت
(Who) knows neither much nor little of the way (and yet) disdains to go behind the guide,
ره نداند نه کثیر و نه قلیل ** ننگش آید آمدن خلف دلیل
He is journeying in a long wilderness, now limping in despair and now (advancing) at a run.2195
He hath neither a candle, that he should make it his leader, nor half a candle, that he should beg a light.
شمع نه تا پیشوای خود کند ** نیم شمعی نه که نوری کد کند
He hath neither (perfect) intelligence, that he should breathe the breath of the living, nor hath he a half-intelligence, that he should make himself dead.
نیست عقلش تا دم زنده زند ** نیم‌عقلی نه که خود مرده کند
He (the half-intelligent one) becomes wholly dead in (devotion to) the man of (perfect) intelligence, that he may ascend from his own low place to the (lofty) roof.
مرده‌ی آن عاقل آید او تمام ** تا برآید از نشیب خود به بام
(If) you have not perfect intelligence, make yourself dead under the protection of an intelligent man whose words are living.
عقل کامل نیست خود را مرده کن ** در پناه عاقلی زنده‌سخن
He (the man devoid of intelligence) is not living, that he should breathe in accord with (a) Jesus, nor is he dead, that he should become a channel for the (life-giving) breath of (a) Jesus.2200
زنده نی تا همدم عیسی بود ** مرده نی تا دمگه عیسی شود
His blind spirit is stepping in every direction: it will not escape in the end, but it is leaping up.
جان کورش گام هر سو می‌نهد ** عاقبت نجهد ولی بر می‌جهد
Story of the lake and the fishermen and the three fishes, one intelligent and one half intelligent and the third deluded, foolish, heedless and good-for-naught; and the end of all three.
قصه‌ی آن آبگیر و صیادان و آن سه ماهی یکی عاقل و یکی نیم عاقل وان دگر مغرور و ابله مغفل لاشی و عاقبت هر سه
This, O obstinate man, is the story of the lake in which there were three great fishes.
قصه‌ی آن آبگیرست ای عنود ** که درو سه ماهی اشگرف بود
You will have read it in Kalíla, but that is (only) the husk of the story, while this is the spiritual kernel.
در کلیله خوانده باشی لیک آن ** قشر قصه باشد و این مغز جان
Some fishermen passed beside the lake and saw that concealed (prey).
چند صیادی سوی آن آبگیر ** برگذشتند و بدیدند آن ضمیر
Then they hastened to bring the net: the fishes noticed and became aware (of their intention).2205
پس شتابیدند تا دام آورند ** ماهیان واقف شدند و هوشمند
The intelligent one resolved to journey, resolved to make the difficult unwelcome journey.
آنک عاقل بود عزم راه کرد ** عزم راه مشکل ناخواه کرد
He said, “I will not consult these (others), for assuredly they will make me weak (deficient) in power (to fulfil my purpose).
گفت با اینها ندارم مشورت ** که یقین سستم کنند از مقدرت
Love of their native place and abode holds sway over their souls: their indolence and ignorance will strike on (affect) me.”
مهر زاد و بوم بر جانشان تند ** کاهلی و جهلشان بر من زند
For consultation, some goodly and (spiritually) living person is required, that he may make thee living; and where is that living one (to be found)?
مشورت را زنده‌ای باید نکو ** که ترا زنده کند وان زنده کو
O traveller, take counsel with a traveller, for a woman's counsel will keep thy foot lame.2210
ای مسافر با مسافر رای زن ** زانک پایت لنگ دارد رای زن