هست از آغاز چون بدر آن خیال ** لیک آخر می‌شود هم‌چون هلال
In the beginning that phantom resembles the full-moon, but in the end it will become like the new-moon.
گر تو اول بنگری چون آخرش ** فارغ آیی از فریب فاترش 3470
If you regard its first (state) as being (really) like its last (state), you will be quit of its feeble deception.
جوز پوسیده‌ست دنیا ای امین ** امتحانش کم کن از دورش ببین
This world is a rotten walnut: O man of trust, do not make trial of it, (but) behold it from afar.
شاه دید آن اسپ را با چشم حال ** وآن عمادالملک با چشم مل
The king viewed the horse with regard to the present, while the ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk (viewed it) with regard to the future.
چشم شه دو گز همی دید از لغز ** چشم آن پایان‌نگر پنجاه گز
The king's eye, because of (its) distortion, saw (only) two ells, (but) the eye of him who regarded the end saw fifty ells.
آن چه سرمه‌ست آنک یزدان می‌کشد ** کز پس صد پرده بیند جان رشد
What a (wondrous) collyrium is that which God applies (to the spiritual eye), so that the spirit discerns the truth behind a hundred curtains!
چشم مهتر چون به آخر بود جفت ** پس بدان دیده جهان را جیفه گفت 3475
Since the Chief's (the Prophet's) eye was ever fixed on the end, by reason of (seeing with) that eye he called the world a carcase.
زین یکی ذمش که بشنود او وحسپ ** پس فسرد اندر دل شه مهر اسپ
On hearing only this single (word of) blame from him (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk), the love (that was) in the king's heart for the horse became chilled.
چشم خود بگذاشت و چشم او گزید ** هوش خود بگذاشت و قول او شنید
He abandoned his own eye and preferred his (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk's) eye: he abandoned his own intelligence and hearkened to his (the other's) words.
این بهانه بود و آن دیان فرد ** از نیاز آن در دل شه سرد کرد
This (speech of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) was (only) the pretext, and (in reality) at (his) entreaty the unique Judge caused it (the horse) to be cold (despicable) in the king's heart.