چه کشید از کیمیا قارون ببین ** که فرو بردش به قعر خود زمین
What did Qárún gain by his alchemy? See how the earth bore him down to its abyss.
بوالحکم آخر چه بر بست از هنر ** سرنگون رفت او ز کفران در سقر
What, after all, did Bu ’l-Hakam (Abú Jahl) get from (intellectual) knowledge? On account of his unbelief he went headlong into Hell.
خود هنر آن داد که دید آتش عیان ** نه کپ دل علی النار الدخان 2505
Know that (true) knowledge consists in seeing fire plainly, not in prating that smoke is evidence of fire.
ای دلیلت گندهتر پیش لبیب ** در حقیقت از دلیل آن طبیب
O you whose evidence in the eyes of the Sage is really more stinking than the evidence of the physician,
چون دلیلت نیست جز این ای پسر ** گوه میخور در کمیزی مینگر
Since you have no evidence but this, O son, eat dung and inspect urine!
ای دلیل تو مثال آن عصا ** در کفت دل علی عیب العمی
O you whose evidence is like the staff in your hand (which) indicates that you suffer from blindness,
غلغل و طاق و طرنب و گیر و دار ** که نمیبینم مرا معذور دار
(All this) noise and pompous talk and assumption of authority (only means), “I cannot see: (kindly) excuse me.”
منادی کردن سید ملک ترمد کی هر کی در سه یا چهار روز به سمرقند رود به فلان مهم خلعت و اسپ و غلام و کنیزک و چندین زر دهم و شنیدن دلقک خبر این منادی در ده و آمدن به اولاقی نزد شاه کی من باری نتوانم رفتن
How the Sayyid, the King of Tirmid, proclaimed that he would give robes of honour and horses and slave-boys and slave-girls and a large sum in gold to any one who would go on urgent business to Samarcand (and complete the journey) in three or four days; and how Dalqak, having heard the news of this proclamation in the country (where he then was), came post-haste to the king, saying, “I, at all events, cannot go.”
سید ترمد که آنجا شاه بود ** مسخرهی او دلقک آگاه بود 2510
The sagacious Dalqak was the buffoon (court-jester) of the Sayyid of Tirmid, who reigned in that place (city).
داشت کاری در سمرقند او مهم ** جستالاقی تا شود او مستتم
He (the king) had an urgent affair in Samarcand, and wanted a courier in order that he might conclude it.
زد منادی هر که اندر پنج روز ** آردم زانجا خبر بدهم کنوز
(Therefore) he proclaimed that he would bestow (his) treasures on any one who should bring him news from there in five days.