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از وطن پرسید و آوردش به گفت ** و اندر آن پرسش بسی درها بسفت
- He asked him about his native land and led him to talk and said many fine things in the course of (his) enquiry.
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بعد از آن گفتش که این هر دو جوال ** چیست آگنده بگو مصدوق حال
- Afterwards he said to him, “What are these two sacks filled with? Tell (me) the truth of the matter.”
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گفت اندر یک جوالم گندم است ** در دگر ریگی نه قوت مردم است 3180
- He replied, “In one sack I have wheat; in the other is some sand—not food for men.”
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گفت تو چون بار کردی این رمال ** گفت تا تنها نماند آن جوال
- “Why,” he asked, “did you load this sand?” “In order that the other sack might not remain alone,” he replied.
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گفت نیم گندم آن تنگ را ** در دگر ریز از پی فرهنگ را
- “For wisdom's sake,” said he, “pour half the wheat of that pannier into the other,
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تا سبک گردد جوال و هم شتر ** گفت شاباش ای حکیم اهل و حر
- So that the sacks may be lightened, and the camel too.” He (the Arab) cried, “Bravo! O clever and noble sage!
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این چنین فکر دقیق و رای خوب ** تو چنین عریان پیاده در لغوب
- Such subtle thought and excellent judgement! And you so naked, (journeying) on foot and in fatigue!”
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رحمتش آمد بر حکیم و عزم کرد ** کش بر اشتر بر نشاند نیک مرد 3185
- The good man took pity on the philosopher and resolved to mount him on the camel.
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باز گفتش ای حکیم خوش سخن ** شمهای از حال خود هم شرح کن
- He said to him again, “O fair-spoken sage, explain a little about your own circumstances as well.
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این چنین عقل و کفایت که تراست ** تو وزیری یا شهی بر گوی راست
- (With) such intelligence and talent as you have, are you a vizier or a king? Tell the truth.”