What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.510
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
گیرم آن گرگت نیابد ز احتیاط ** بی ز جمعیت نیابی آن نشاط
He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey—(if he goes) with companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.
آنک تنها در رهی او خوش رود ** با رفیقان سیر او صدتو شود
Notwithstanding the grossness of the ass, it (the ass) is exhilarated, O dervish, by comrades (of its own kind) and becomes capable of (exerting) strength.
با غلیظی خر ز یاران ای فقیر ** در نشاط آید شود قوت‌پذیر
To any ass that goes alone (and away) from the caravan the road is (made) a hundredfold (longer) by fatigue.
هر خری کز کاروان تنها رود ** بر وی آن راه از تعب صدتو شود
How many more goadings and cudgellings does it suffer that it may cross the desert (unaccompanied and) alone!515
چند سیخ و چند چوب افزون خورد ** تا که تنها آن بیابان را برد
That ass is saying to you (implicitly), ‘Take good heed! Don't travel alone like this, unless you are an ass!’
مر ترا می‌گوید آن خر خوش شنو ** گر نه‌ای خر هم‌چنین تنها مرو
Beyond doubt he who cheerfully goes alone into the custom-house will go more cheerfully (when he is) with companions.
آنک تنها خوش رود اندر رصد ** با رفیقان بی‌گمان خوشتر رود
Every prophet (that walked) on this straight road produced evidentiary miracles and sought fellow-travellers.
هر نبیی اندرین راه درست ** معجزه بنمود و همراهان بجست
Were it not for the help given by the walls, how should houses and magazines arise?
گر نباشد یاری دیوارها ** کی برآید خانه و انبارها
If each wall be separated (from the others), how shall the roof remain suspended in the air?520
هر یکی دیوار اگر باشد جدا ** سقف چون باشد معلق در هوا
If no help be given by ink and pen, how shall the writing come on to the surface of the paper?
گر نباشد یاری حبر و قلم ** کی فتد بر روی کاغذها رقم
If this rush-mat which some one is spreading were not joined together (interwoven), the wind would carry it away.
این حصیری که کسی می‌گسترد ** گر نپیوندد به هم بادش برد
Since God created pairs of every kind, therefore (all) results are produced by means of union.”
حق ز هر جنسی چو زوجین آفرید ** پس نتایج شد ز جمعیت پدید
He (the fowler) spoke (on one side) and it (the bird) spoke (on the other side): their debate on this subject was prolonged by the vehemence (with which they argued).
او بگفت و او بگفت از اهتزاز ** بحثشان شد اندرین معنی دراز
Make the Mathnawí nimble and pleasing to the heart: abridge and shorten (their) controversy.525
مثنوی را چابک و دلخواه کن ** ماجرا را موجز و کوتاه کن
Afterwards, it (the bird) said to him, “Whose is the wheat?” He replied, “It is the deposit of an orphan who has no guardian.
بعد از آن گفتش که گندم آن کیست ** گفت امانت از یتیم بی وصیست
It is orphans' property, deposited with me because people deem me trustworthy.”
مال ایتام است امانت پیش من ** زانک پندارند ما را متمن
The bird said, “I am driven by necessity and in a sore plight: (even) carrion is lawful to me at this moment.
گفت من مضطرم و مجروح‌حال ** هست مردار این زمان بر من حلال
Hark, with your permission I will eat of this wheat, O trusty and devout and venerable one.”
هین به دستوری ازین گندم خورم ** ای امین و پارسا و محترم
He replied, “You are the judge of (your) necessity: if you eat without necessity, you will commit a sin;530