هست در دل زندگی دارالخلود ** در زبانم چون نمی‌آید چه سود
The life of the everlasting Abode (Paradise) exists in the heart: since it comes not on to my tongue, what is the use (of my attempting to describe it)?
چون سلیمان در شدی هر بامداد ** مسجد اندر بهر ارشاد عباد
When Solomon went into the Mosque every morning to guide the servants (of God) in the right way,
پند دادی گه بگفت و لحن و ساز ** گه به فعل اعنی رکوعی یا نماز
He would give exhortation, sometimes by speech and melody and harmony, sometimes by act—I mean, a bowing or (service of) prayer.
پند فعلی خلق را جذاب‌تر ** که رسد در جان هر باگوش و کر485
The exhortation of act draws people more powerfully, for it reaches the soul of every one that hath hearing and (also) the deaf.
اندر آن وهم امیری کم بود ** در حشم تاثیر آن محکم بود
In that (kind of exhortation) the conceit of princedom is less (than in the other kind): the impression made by it upon the (prince’s) followers is strong.
قصه‌ی آغاز خلافت عثمان رضی الله عنه و خطبه‌ی وی در بیان آنک ناصح فعال به فعل به از ناصح قوال به قول
Story of the beginning of the Caliphate of ‘Uthmán, may God be well-pleased with him, and his sermon expounding that the doer who exhorts by deeds is better than the speaker who exhorts by words.
قصه‌ی عثمان که بر منبر برفت ** چون خلافت یافت بشتابید تفت
The story (told) of ‘Uthmán is that he mounted the pulpit: when he obtained the Caliphate, he made hot haste (to mount it).
منبر مهتر که سه‌پایه بدست ** رفت بوبکر و دوم پایه نشست
(’Twas) the pulpit of the Chief (Mohammed), which had three steps: Abú Bakr went and seated himself on the second step.
بر سوم پایه عمر در دور خویش ** از برای حرمت اسلام و کیش
‘Umar, in his reign, (sat) on the third step in order to show reverence for Islam and the (true) Religion.
دور عثمان آمد او بالای تخت ** بر شد و بنشست آن محمودبخت490
(When) the reign of ‘Uthmán arrived, he, that man of praised (blessed) fortune, went up on to the top of the throne (pulpit) and seated himself.
پس سالش کرد شخصی بوالفضول ** که آن دو ننشستند بر جای رسول
Then a person given to idle meddling questioned him, saying, “Those two did not sit in the Prophet's place: