The worth of a treasury is indicated by the many locks upon it.
The greatness of the traveler’s goal
is marked by the intricate windings of the way,
and the mountain passes to be endured,
and the brigands infesting them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`Ezzet-e makhzan bud andar bah
keh baru besyr b shad qofl-h
`Ezzet-e maqsad bud ay momtahan
pich-e pich-e rah o `aqabeh o rahzan
— Mathnawi V: 3222-3223
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
“Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance”
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahy¡ Monastra
