ای برادر قصه چون پیمانهای است ** معنی اندر وی مثال دانهای است
O brother, the story is like a measure: the real meaning in it resembles grain (in the measure).
دانهی معنی بگیرد مرد عقل ** ننگرد پیمانه را گر گشت نقل
The man of intelligence will take the grain of meaning: he will not pay any regard to the measure, (even) if it is removed (altogether).
ماجرای بلبل و گل گوش دار ** گر چه گفتی نیست آن جا آشکار
Listen to what passes between the rose and the nightingale, though in that case there is no overt speech.
سخن گفتن به زبان حال و فهم کردن آن
On mute eloquence and the understanding of it.
ماجرای شمع با پروانه نیز ** بشنو و معنی گزین کن ای عزیز3625
Listen to what passes between the moth and the candle, and pick out the meaning from the tale.
گر چه گفتی نیست سر گفت هست ** هین ببالا پر مپر چون جغد پست
Albeit there is no speech, there is the inmost soul of speech. Come, fly aloft, do not fly low, like the owl.
گفت در شطرنج کاین خانهی رخ است ** گفت خانه از کجاش آمد بدست
He (the player) at chess said, “This is the house of the rook.” “By what way,” said he (the literalist), “did the house come into its hands?
خانه را بخرید یا میراث یافت ** فرخ آن کس کاو سوی معنی شتافت
Did it buy the house, or inherit it?”—Happy is he that sped towards the (real) meaning!
گفت نحوی زید عمرا قد ضرب ** گفت چونش کرد بیجرمی ادب
A grammarian said, “Zayd has struck ‘Amr.” Said (the fool), “How did he chastise him without any offence (on his part)?
عمرو را جرمش چه بد کان زید خام ** بیگنه او را بزد همچون غلام3630
What was ‘Amr's offence, that that rude Zayd struck him, innocent (though he was), as (if he were) a slave?”
گفت این پیمانهی معنی بود ** گندمی بستان که پیمانه است رد
He (the grammarian) replied, “This (form of words) is (only) the measure (container) of the meaning signified: take some wheat, for the measure is (to be) rejected.