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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.”
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گفت این هر دو نیم از عامهام ** بنگر اندر حال و اندر جامهام
- He answered, “I am not (either of) these two: I am of the common folk. Look at my appearance and dress.”
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گفت اشتر چند داری چند گاو ** گفت نه این و نه آن ما را مکاو
- He asked, “How many camels have you? How many oxen?” “I have neither these nor those,” he replied: “do not dig at me.”
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گفت رختت چیست باری در دکان ** گفت ما را کو دکان و کو مکان 3190
- He said, “At any rate, what goods have you in your shop?” He answered, “Where have I a shop, and where a dwelling-place?”
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گفت پس از نقد پرسم نقد چند ** که تویی تنها رو و محبوب پند
- “Then,” said he, “I will ask about money. How much money (have you)?—for you are a solitary wanderer and one whose counsel is prized.
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کیمیای مس عالم با تو است ** عقل و دانش را گهر تو بر تو است
- With you is the elixir which changes the copper of the world (into) gold: your understanding and knowledge are inlaid with pearls.”
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گفت و الله نیست یا وجه العرب ** در همه ملکم وجوه قوت شب
- “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property there is not the means of (buying) food for the night.
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پا برهنه تن برهنه میدوم ** هر که نانی میدهد آن جا روم
- I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.