When the dog is awake during the night, like a watchman, he is not ignorant of the nightly vigil of the (spiritual) kings.
هین ز بدنامان نباید ننگ داشت ** هوش بر اسرارشان باید گماشت
Hark, you must not disdain them that have a bad name: you must set your mind on their inward parts (spiritual qualities).
هر که او یک‌بار خود بدنام شد ** خود نباید نام جست و خام شد 2920
Whoever has once got a bad name must not seek (to win) a (good) name and (thereby) become half-baked.
ای بسا زر که سیه‌تابش کنند ** تا شود آمن ز تاراج و گزند
Oh, many a (piece of) gold is made (like) black polished iron in order that it may be saved from pillage and calamity.
قصه‌ی آنک گاو بحری گوهر کاویان از قعر دریا بر آورد شب بر ساحل دریا نهد در درخش و تاب آن می‌چرد بازرگان از کمین برون آید چون گاو از گوهر دورتر رفته باشد بازرگان به لجم و گل تیره گوهر را بپوشاند و بر درخت گریزد الی آخر القصه و التقریب
Story of the sea-cow: how it brings up the royal pearl from the depths of the ocean and at night lays it on the seashore and feeds in the resplendence and lustre thereof; and how the trader comes forth from his hiding-place and, when the cow has gone some distance away from the pearl, covers the pearl with loam and black clay and runs off and climbs a tree; and so on to the end of the story and exposition.
گاو آبی گوهر از بحر آورد ** بنهد اندر مرج و گردش می‌چرد
The water-cow fetches a pearl out of the sea, lays it on the meadow, and grazes around it.
در شعاع نور گوهر گاو آب ** می‌چرد از سنبل و سوسن شتاب
In the radiance of the light of the pearl the water-cow feeds hurriedly on hyacinths and lilies.
زان فکنده‌ی گاو آبی عنبرست ** که غذااش نرگس و نیلوفرست
The excrement of the water-cow is ambergris because its food is narcissus and nenuphar.
هرکه باشد قوت او نور جلال ** چون نزاید از لبش سحر حلال 2925
Any one whose food is the Light of (Divine) Majesty, how should not lawful magic (wondrous eloquence) spring from his lips?
هرکه چون زنبور وحیستش نفل ** چون نباشد خانه‌ی او پر عسل
Any one who, like the bee, has been given (Divine) inspiration as a prize, how should not his house be full of honey?
می‌چرد در نور گوهر آن بقر ** ناگهان گردد ز گوهر دورتر
The cow grazes in the light of the pearl; (then) suddenly it moves some distance away from the pearl.