Crow and owl and falcon come (as captives) into the (same) cage: the holy and the irreligious become mates in prison. 2380
در قفص افتند زاغ و جغد و باز ** جفت شد در حبس پاک و بینماز
At night Easterners and Westerners and Transoxanians make their abode in the same caravanseray.
کرده منزل شب به یک کاروانسرا ** اهل شرق و اهل غرب و ما ورا
Small and great (folk) remain together for days in the caravanseray because of frost and snow.
مانده در کاروانسرا خرد و شگرف ** روزها با هم ز سرما و ز برف
As soon as the road is opened and the obstacle removed, they separate and every one goes in a (different) direction.
چون گشاده شد ره و بگشاد بند ** بسکلند و هر یکی جایی روند
When sovereign Reason breaks the cage, all the birds fly away, each one to a (different) quarter.
چون قفس را بشکند شاه خرد ** جمع مرغان هر یکی سویی پرد
Before this (deliverance) each one, full of longing and lament, spreads its wings towards its destination, in desire for its mate. 2385
پر گشاید پیش ازین بر شوق و یاد ** در هوای جنس خود سوی معاد
At every moment it spreads its wings with tears and sighs, but it has no room or way to fly.
پر گشاید هر دمی با اشک و آه ** لیک پریدن ندارد روی و راه
(As soon as) way is made, each one flies like the wind towards that in remembrance of which it spread its wings.
راه شد هر یک پرد مانند باد ** سوی آن کز یاد آن پر میگشاد
Its way, when it gains the opportunity, is towards the region whither its tears and sighs were (directed).
آن طرف که بود اشک و آه او ** چونک فرصت یافت باشد راه او
Consider your own body: from what places were these corporeal parts (elements and faculties) collected in the body—
در تن خود بنگر این اجزای تن ** از کجاها گرد آمد در بدن
Watery and earthen and airy and fiery, celestial and terrestrial, (some) of Rúm and (some) of Kash. 2390
آبی و خاکی و بادی و آتشی ** عرشی و فرشی و رومی و گشی
In this (bodily) caravanseray one and all, from fear of the snow, have closed their eyes to the hope of returning (to their final destination).
از امید عود هر یک بسته طرف ** اندرین کاروانسرا از بیم برف
The various snows are (symbolise) the congelation of every inanimate thing in the winter of farness from that Sun of justice.
برف گوناگون جمود هر جماد ** در شتای بعد آن خورشید داد
(But) when the heat of the angry Sun flames (forth), the mountain becomes now (like) sand and now (like) wool.
چون بتابد تف آن خورشید جشم ** کوه گردد گاه ریگ و گاه پشم
The gross inanimate things dissolve, like the dissolution of the body at the hour of the spirit's departure.
در گداز آید جمادات گران ** چون گداز تن به وقت نقل جان
When these three fellow-travellers arrived at a certain hostelry, a man of fortune brought them (some) halwá (sweetmeat) as a gift. 2395
چون رسیدند این سه همره منزلی ** هدیهشان آورد حلوا مقبلی
A benefactor brought to the three strangers (some) halwá from the kitchen of Lo, I am near.
برد حلوا پیش آن هر سه غریب ** محسنی از مطبخ انی قریب
One who had expectation of (earning) the (Divine) reward brought (to them) warm bread and a dish of halwá made with honey.
نان گرم و صحن حلوای عسل ** برد آنک در ثوابش بود امل
Intelligence and culture are characteristic of townsmen; hospitality and entertainment (of guests) are characteristic of tent-dwellers.
الکیاسه والادب لاهل المدر ** الضیافه والقری لاهل الوبر
The Merciful (God) has implanted hospitality to strangers and entertainment (of guests) in the villagers (countryfolk).
الضیافة للغریب والقری ** اودع الرحمن فی اهل القری
Every day in the villages (countryside) there is a new guest who has none to help him except God. 2400
کل یوم فی القری ضیف حدیث ** ما له غیر الاله من مغیث
Every night in the villages (countryside) are new-comers who have no refuge there save God.
کل لیل فی القری وفد جدید ** ما لهم ثم سوی الله محید
The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم