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دزد را تو دست ببریدن پسند ** از بریدن عاجزی دستش ببند 3490
- Deem the amputation of the robber's hand desirable: if you are unable to cut his hand off, bind it.
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گر نبندی دست او دست تو بست ** گر تو پایش نشکنی پایت شکست
- Unless you bind his hand, he will bind yours; unless you break his leg, he will break yours.
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تو عدو را می دهی و نی‌شکر ** بهر چه گو زهر خند و خاک خور
- You give the enemy wine and sugar-cane—for what reason? Bid him laugh venomously and eat earth.”
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زد ز غیرت بر سبو سنگ و شکست ** او سبو انداخت و از زاهد بجست
- In his indignation he (the ascetic) hurled a stone at the jug and broke it: he (the slave) let the jug fall and sprang away from the ascetic.
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رفت پیش میر و گفتش باده کو ** ماجرا را گفت یک یک پیش او
- He went to the Amír, who said to him, “Where is the wine?” He (the slave) related in his presence all that had happened, point by point.
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رفتن امیر خشم‌آلود برای گوشمال زاهد
- How the enraged Amír set out to punish the ascetic.
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میر چون آتش شد و برجست راست ** گفت بنما خانه‌ی زاهد کجاست 3495
- The Amír became like fire and jumped straight up. “Show me,” he cried, “where the ascetic's house is,
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تا بدین گرز گران کوبم سرش ** آن سر بی‌دانش مادرغرش
- That I may pound his head with this heavy club—his ignorant whoreson head.
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او چه داند امر معروف از سگی ** طالب معروفی است و شهرگی
- What should he know about enjoining (others) to do right? He is currishly seeking notoriety and fame,
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تا بدین سالوس خود را جا کند ** تا به چیزی خویشتن پیدا کند
- In order that by means of this hypocrisy he may make a position for himself and somehow make himself conspicuous;
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کو ندارد خود هنر الا همان ** که تسلس می‌کند با این و آن
- For in truth he has no talent save this alone, that he plays the hypocrite to all and sundry.