در خموشی هر سه را خطرت یکی ** در سخن هم هر سه را حجت یکی
At the time of silence all three had one thought; at the time of speech, too, all three had one argument.
یک زمانی اشک‌ریزان جمله‌شان ** بر سر خوان مصیبت خون‌فشان 3890
At one moment they all were shedding tears and weeping blood on the dining-table of calamity;
یک زمان از آتش دل هر سه کس ** بر زده با سوز چون مجمر نفس
At another moment all three, from the fire in their hearts, heaved burning sighs as (hot as) a chafing-pan.
مقالت برادر بزرگین
The discourse of the eldest brother.
آن بزرگین گفت ای اخوان خیر ** ما نه نر بودیم اندر نصح غیر
The eldest said, “O men of probity, were not we masculine (vigorous and bold) in giving counsel to others?
از حشم هر که به ما کردی گله ** از بلا و فقر و خوف و زلزله
Whenever one of the (King's) retainers complained to us of affliction and poverty and fear and agitation,
ما همی‌گفتیم کم نال از حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
We used to say, ‘Do not bewail thy hardships: be patient, for patience (fortitude) is the key to relief from pain.’
این کلید صبر را اکنون چه شد ** ای عجب منسوخ شد قانون چه شد 3895
What has become now of this key, (namely) fortitude? Wonderful! The rule (which we laid down for others) is null and void (for us): what has become of it?
ما نمی‌گفتیم که اندر کش مکش ** اندر آتش هم‌چو زر خندید خوش
Did not we always say, ‘In the (hour of) struggle laugh happily like gold in the fire’?
مر سپه را وقت تنگاتنگ جنگ ** گفته ما که هین مگردانید رنگ
We said to the soldiers at the time of conflict in battle, ‘Hark, do not change colour (lose courage)!’
آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا ** جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا
At the time when the ground trodden underfoot by the horses was entirely (composed of) severed heads,