Whoever reads it (as) an idle tale, he is (as) an idle tale; and he who regards it as money in his own hands (real truth to be applied to himself) is like a man (of God).
هر کش افسانه بخواند افسانه است ** وآنک دیدش نقد خود مردانه است
It is the water of the Nile, which seemed blood to the Egyptian, (but) to the people of Moses was not blood, but water.
آب نیلست و به قبطی خون نمود ** قوم موسی را نه خون بد آب بود
At this moment the enemy of these words (the Mathnawí) is pictured in (thy) sight (falling) headlong into Hell-fire.
دشمن این حرف این دم در نظر ** شد ممثل سرنگون اندر سقر
O Ziyá’u ’l-Haqq (Radiance of God), thou hast seen his (evil) state: God hath shown unto thee the answer to his (evil) actions.35
ای ضیاء الحق تو دیدی حال او ** حق نمودت پاسخ افعال او
Thine eye which beholds the invisible is a master(-seer) like the Invisible: may this vision and gift not vanish from this world!
دیده‌ی غیبت چو غیبست اوستاد ** کم مبادا زین جهان این دید و داد
If thou wilt here complete this story, which is the current coin of (directly applicable to) our present state, ’tis fitting.
این حکایت را که نقد وقت ماست ** گر تمامش می‌کنی اینجا رواست
Leave the unworthy folk for the sake of the worthy: bring the tale to the end and conduct it to the issue.
ناکسان را ترک کن بهر کسان ** قصه را پایان بر و مخلص رسان
If this story was not finished there (in the Third Book), ’tis (now) the Fourth Volume: set it out in order.
این حکایت گر نشد آنجا تمام ** چارمین جلدست آرش در نظام
Conclusion of the story of the lover who fled from the night-patrol into an orchard unknown to him, and for joy at finding his beloved in the orchard called down blessings on the night-patrol and said, "It may be that ye loathe a thing although it is better for you."
تمامی حکایت آن عاشق که از عسس گریخت در باغی مجهول خود معشوق را در باغ یافت و عسس را از شادی دعای خیر می‌کرد و می‌گفت کی عسی ان تکرهوا شیا و هو خیر لکم
We were at the point (of the story) where that person (fled) in terror from the night-patrol (and) galloped into the orchard.40
اندر آن بودیم کان شخص از عسس ** راند اندر باغ از خوفی فرس
In the orchard was the beauteous one for love of whom this (youth) had been in tribulation eight years.
بود اندر باغ آن صاحب‌جمال ** کز غمش این در عنا بد هشت سال
He had no possibility of seeing (even) her shadow: he was (only) hearing the description of her, as (of) the ‘Anqá,
سایه‌ی او را نبود امکان دید ** هم‌چو عنقا وصف او را می‌شنید
Except (for) one meeting which happened to him by (Divine) destiny at the first and enravished his heart.
جز یکی لقیه که اول از قضا ** بر وی افتاد و شد او را دلربا
After that, however much effort he made, in sooth that cruel one would give him no opportunity.
بعد از آن چندان که می‌کوشید او ** خود مجالش می‌نداد آن تندخو
Neither entreaty nor wealth availed him: that (fresh) sapling was fully satisfied and without desire.45
نه بلا به چاره بودش نه به مال ** چشم پر و بی‌طمع بود آن نهال
(In the case of) the lover of any craft or object of pursuit, God has touched his lip (with honey or the like) at the beginning of the affair;
عاشق هر پیشه‌ای و مطلبی ** حق بیالود اول کارش لبی
(But) when at that contact they have entered upon the quest, He lays a snare before their feet every day.
چون بدان آسیب در جست آمدند ** پیش پاشان می‌نهد هر روز بند
When He has plunged him (the lover) into search for the matter (which he has at heart), after that He shuts the door, saying, “Bring the dowry.”
چون در افکندش بجست و جوی کار ** بعد از آن در بست که کابین بیار
Still they cling to that (sweet) scent (hope) and go (on their quest): at every moment they become hopeful and despairing.
هم بر آن بو می‌تنند و می‌روند ** هر دمی راجی و آیس می‌شوند
Every one (of them) hath hope of (winning) the fruit whereto a door was opened to him on a certain day;50
هر کسی را هست اومید بری ** که گشادندش در آن روزی دری
Then it was shut (upon them) again; (but) that devotee to the door, (continuing) in the same hope, has become fire-footed.
باز در بستندش و آن درپرست ** بر همان اومید آتش پا شدست
When the youth joyously entered that orchard, verily on a sudden his foot sank in (struck upon) the (buried) treasure.
چون درآمد خوش در آن باغ آن جوان ** خود فرو شد پا به گنجش ناگهان
God had made the night-patrol the means, so that in fear of him he (the lover) should run into the orchard by night
مر عسس را ساخته یزدان سبب ** تا ز بیم او دود در باغ شب
And should see the beloved one searching with a lantern for a ring in the rivulet of the orchard.
بیند آن معشوقه را او با چراغ ** طالب انگشتری در جوی باغ
Therefore at that moment, from the delight (which he experienced), he conjoined praise of God with prayers for the night-patrol,55
پس قرین می‌کرد از ذوق آن نفس ** با ثنای حق دعای آن عسس
Saying, “I caused loss to the night-patrol by fleeing (from him): scatter o’er him twenty times as much silver and gold.
که زیان کردم عسس را از گریز ** بیست چندان سیم و زر بر وی بریز