گفت نه من آن ندانم عمرو را ** زید چون زد بیگناه و بیخطا
“Nay,” said he, “I don't know about that. How did Zayd strike ‘Amr without (his committing any) crime or fault?”
گفت از ناچار و لاغی بر گشود ** عمرو یک واو فزون دزدیده بود
He (the grammarian) in desperation started a joke and said, “‘Amr had stolen a superfluous wáw.
زید واقف گشت دزدش را بزد ** چون که از حد برد او را حد سزد3635
Zayd became aware, and struck the stealer of it: since he (‘Amr) carried it beyond bounds (transgressed the law), the punishment serves him right.”
پذیرا آمدن سخن باطل در دل باطلان
How worthless sayings find acceptance in the minds of worthless folk.
گفت اینک راست پذرفتم به جان ** کج نماید راست در پیش کجان
He (the fool) said, “Here you are, this is the truth! I accept (it) with (all) my soul.” Wrong seems right to the wrong-minded.
گر بگویی احولی را مه یکی است ** گویدت این دوست و در وحدت شکی است
If you say to a squinting man, “The moon is one,” he will say to you, “These are two (moons); and there is a (great) doubt as to (the moon's) being one”;
ور بر او خندد کسی گوید دو است ** راست دارد این سزای بد خو است
And if somebody laughs at him and says, “There are two,” he deems it the truth. This (mockery) is what the ill-natured (ignorant and contumacious) fellow deserves.
بر دروغان جمع میآید دروغ ** الخبیثات الخبیثین زد فروغ
Lies muster round (those who are living) lies: (the text) the wicked men for the wicked women has thrown light (upon this point).
دل فراخان را بود دست فراخ ** چشم کوران را عثار سنگلاخ3640
They whose hearts are (opened) wide (to receive spiritual truths) have wide (far-reaching) hands; they whose (spiritual) eyes are blind have to stumble on stony ground.
جستن آن درخت که هر که میوهی آن درخت خورد نمیرد
On seeking the tree whereof none that eats the fruit shall die.
گفت دانایی برای داستان ** که درختی هست در هندوستان
A learned man (once) said, for the sake of (telling) a story, “In India there is a certain tree:
هر کسی کز میوهی او خورد و برد ** نه شود او پیر نه هرگز بمرد
Whoso takes and eats of its fruit, he grows not old nor ever dies.”