- By thee the (whole) world is made a place abounding in spirit: a single cavalier becomes the support of a hundred armies.
- از تو عالم روح زاری می‌شود ** پشت صد لشکر سواری می‌شود
- Inasmuch as this body is the abode (nest) of (these) four dispositions, they are named the four mischief-seeking birds.
- زانک این تن شد مقام چار خو ** نامشان شد چار مرغ فتنه‌جو
- If thou wish the people to have everlasting life, cut off the heads of these four foul and evil birds,
- خلق را گر زندگی خواهی ابد ** سر ببر زین چار مرغ شوم بد
- (And then) revive them again in another sort, so that afterwards no harm will be done by them.
- بازشان زنده کن از نوعی دگر ** که نباشد بعد از آن زیشان ضرر
- The four immaterial birds which infest the Way have made their home in the hearts of the people. 40
- چار مرغ معنوی راه‌زن ** کرده‌اند اندر دل خلقان وطن
- Since in this epoch thou, O Vicegerent of God, art the commander of all righteous hearts,
- چون امیر جمله دلهای سوی ** اندرین دور ای خلیفه‌ی حق توی
- Cut off the heads of these four live birds and make everlasting the creatures that are not enduring for ever.
- سر ببر این چار مرغ زنده را ** سر مدی کن خلق ناپاینده را
- There is the duck and the peacock and the crow and the cock: these are a parable of the four (evil) dispositions in (human) souls.
- بط و طاوسست و زاغست و خروس ** این مثال چار خلق اندر نفوس
- The duck is greed, and the cock is lust; eminence is like the peacock, and the crow is (worldly) desire.
- بط حرصست و خروس آن شهوتست ** جاه چون طاوس و زاغ امنیتست
- His (the crow's) object of desire is this, that he forms hopes and wishes for immortality or long life. 45
- منیتش آن که بود اومیدساز ** طامع تابید یا عمر دراز
- The duck is greed, for her bill is always in the ground, seeking what is buried in the wet and dry.
- بط حرص آمد که نولش در زمین ** در تر و در خشک می‌جوید دفین
- That gullet (of hers) is never idle for a moment: it hearkens unto naught of the (Divine) ordinance save the command “Eat ye!”
- یک زمان نبود معطل آن گلو ** نشنود از حکم جز امر کلوا
- ’Tis like the looter who digs up (ravages) the house and very quickly fills his bag,
- هم‌چو یغماجیست خانه می‌کند ** زود زود انبان خود پر می‌کند
- Cramming into the bag good and bad (indifferently), single pearls and chickpeas,
- اندر انبان می‌فشارد نیک و بد ** دانه‌های در و حبات نخود
- Cramming dry and wet into the sack, for fear lest another enemy should arrive. 50
- تا مبادا یاغیی آید دگر ** می‌فشارد در جوال او خشک و تر
- Time presses, the opportunity is small, he is terrified: without delay he heaves it under his arm as speedily as possible.
- وقت تنگ و فرصت اندک او مخوف ** در بغل زد هر چه زودتر بی‌وقوف
- But the true believer, from his confidence in that (Divine) Life, conducts his raid in a leisurely manner and with deliberation.
- لیک مومن ز اعتماد آن حیات ** می‌کند غارت به مهل و با انات
- He hath no fear of missing his chance or of the enemy, for he recognises the King's dominion over the enemy.
- آمنست از فوت و از یاغی که او ** می‌شناسد قهر شه را بر عدو
- He hath no fear of the other fellow-servants coming to jostle him and gain the advantage, 55
- آمنست از خواجه‌تاشان دگر ** که بیایندش مزاحم صرفه‌بر
- (For) he perceived the King's justice in restraining his followers so that none durst do violence to any one.
- عدل شه را دید در ضبط حشم ** که نیارد کرد کس بر کس ستم
- Consequently he does not hurry and is calm: he hath no fear of missing his (appointed) portion.
- لاجرم نشتابد و ساکن بود ** از فوات حظ خود آمن بود
- He hath much deliberation and patience and long-suffering; he is contented and unselfish and pure of heart,
- بس تانی دارد و صبر و شکیب ** چشم‌سیر و مثرست و پاک‌جیب
- For this deliberation is the ray of the Merciful (God), while that haste is from the impulse of the Devil,
- کین تانی پرتو رحمان بود ** وان شتاب از هزه‌ی شیطان بود
- Because the Devil frightens him (the greedy man) away from poverty and kills the beast of burden, patience, by stabbing. 60
- زانک شیطانش بترساند ز فقر ** بارگیر صبر را بکشد به عقر