نعمت جنات خوش بر دوزخمی ** شد محرم گرچه حق آمد سخی
Although God is munificent, the enjoyment of the delightful gardens ofParadise is forbidden to him who is destined for Hell.
در دهانش تلخ آید شهد خلد ** چون نبود از وافیان در عهد خلد 830
The honey of Paradise becomes bitter in his mouth, since he was not (destined to be) one of them that faithfully keep the covenant of everlasting life.
مر شما را نیز در سوداگری ** دست کی جنبد چو نبود مشتری
Ye (worldly folk) also (who are engaged) in commerce—how should your hands move (to sell anything) when there is no buyer?
کی نظاره اهل بخریدن بود ** آن نظاره گول گردیدن بود
How should (idle) looking-on be capable of buying? The fool's looking-on is (not for buying, but merely for) loitering.
پرس پرسان کین به چند و آن به چند ** از پی تعبیر وقت و ریش‌خند
(He strolls about) continually asking, “How much is this?” and “How much is that?” for the sake of pastime and mockery.
از ملولی کاله می‌خواهد ز تو ** نیست آن کس مشتری و کاله‌جو
(’Tis only) from boredom (that) he asks you (to show him) your goods: that person is not a buyer and customer.
کاله را صد بار دید و باز داد ** جامه کی پیمود او پیمود باد 835
He inspects the article a hundred times and hands it back (to you): when did he (ever) measure a piece of cloth? He measured wind (and nothing else).
کو قدوم و کر و فر مشتری ** کو مزاح گنگلی سرسری
What a distance between the approach and bargaining of a purchaser and the pleasantries of a silly joker?
چونک در ملکش نباشد حبه‌ای ** جز پی گنگل چه جوید جبه‌ای
Since there is not a mite in his possession, how should he seek (to buy) a coat except in jest?
در تجارت نیستش سرمایه‌ای ** پس چه شخص زشت او چه سایه‌ای
He has no capital for trading: what, then, is the difference between his ill-favoured person and a shadow?