او بسوی سفل میراند فرس ** گر چه سوی علو جنباند جرس
He gallops his horse towards lowness, albeit he rings the bell (proclaims that he is going) aloft.
از علمهای گدایان ترس چیست ** کان علمها لقمهی نان را رهی است
What is there to fear from the flags of beggars?—for those flags are (but) a means for (getting) a mouthful of bread.
ترسیدن کودک از آن شخص صاحب جثه و گفتن آن شخص که ای کودک مترس که من نامردم
Timet puer quidam hominem corpulentum. “Ne timueris,” inquit, “O puer; ego enim vir non sum.” [About a boy’s fear of the corpulent man and how that person said, “Don’t be afraid, O boy, since I am not manly.”]
کنگ زفتی کودکی را یافت فرد ** زرد شد کودک ز بیم قصد مرد3155
Juvenis robustus puerum deprehendit solum. Palluit timore puer ne forte homo impetum faceret. [A stout youth found a boy alone. The boy turned pale from fear of the man’s intention (to attack).]
گفت ایمن باش ای زیبای من ** که تو خواهی بود بر بالای من
“Securus esto,” inquit, “mi pulcher; tu enim super me eris.” [He (the man) said, “Be secure, O my lovely one, since you will be on top of me. ]
من اگر هولم مخنث دان مرا ** همچو اشتر بر نشین میران مرا
Etiamsi terribilis (aspectu) sum, scito me impotentem esse ad coitum: me sicut camelum conscende, propelle.” [“Although I am dreadful (in appearance), know me (to be an impotent) catamite. Mount me like a camel (and) thrust.”]
صورت مردان و معنی این چنین ** از برون آدم درون دیو لعین
(With) the appearance of men and the reality like this— Adam without, the accursed Devil within—
آن دهل را مانی ای زفت چو عاد ** که بر او آن شاخ را میکوفت باد
O you that are big as the people of ‘Ád, you resemble the drum against which a branch was beaten by the wind.
روبهی اشکار خود را باد داد ** بهر طبلی همچو خیک پر ز باد3160
A fox abandoned his prey for the sake of a drum like a wind-filled leathern bag,
چون ندید اندر دهل او فربهی ** گفت خوکی به ازین خیک تهی
(But) when he found no (real) fatness in the drum, he said, “A hog is better than this empty bag.”
روبهان ترسند ز آواز دهل ** عاقلش چندان زند که لا تقل
Foxes are afraid of the noise of the drum; (but) the wise man beats it ever so much, saying, “Speak not!”
قصهی تیر اندازی و ترسیدن او از سواری که در بیشه میرفت
The story of an archer and his fear of a horseman who was riding in a forest.
یک سواری با سلاح و بس مهیب ** میشد اندر بیشه بر اسبی نجیب
A horseman, armed and very terrible (in appearance), was riding in the forest on a high-bred horse.
تیر اندازی به حکم او را بدید ** پس ز خوف او کمان را در کشید
An expert archer espied him, and then from fear of him drew his bow,
تا زند تیری سوارش بانگ زد ** من ضعیفم گر چه زفت استم جسد3165
To shoot an arrow. The horseman shouted to him, “I am a weakling, though my body is big.
هان و هان منگر تو در زفتی من ** که کمم در وقت جنگ از پیر زن
Take heed! Take heed! Do not regard my bigness, for in the hour of battle I am less than an old woman.”
گفت رو که نیک گفتی ور نه نیش ** بر تو میانداختم از ترس خویش
“Pass on,” said he; “thou hast spoken well, else by reason of my fear I should have shot a barb at thee.”
بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بیرجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت
Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).
گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن
If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.
جان سپر کن تیغ بگذار ای پسر ** هر که بیسر بود از این شه برد سر3170
Make your soul a shield and drop the sword, O son: whoever is headless (selfless) saves his head from this King.
آن سلاحت حیله و مکر تو است ** هم ز تو زایید و هم جان تو خست
Those weapons of yours are your (selfish) contriving and plotting; they have sprung from you and at the same time have wounded your soul.
چون نکردی هیچ سودی زین حیل ** ترک حیلت کن که پیش آید دول
Since you have gained nothing by these contrivings, abandon contrivance, that happy fortunes may meet (you).
چون که یک لحظه نخوردی بر ز فن ** ترک فن گو میطلب رب المنن
Since you have not for one moment enjoyed (any) fruit from the arts (of the schools), bid farewell to the arts, and seek always the Lord of bounties.
چون مبارک نیست بر تو این علوم ** خویشتن گولی کن و بگذر ز شوم
Since these sciences bring you no blessing, make yourself a dunce and leave ill luck behind.
چون ملایک گو که لا علم لنا ** یا الهی غیر ما علمتنا3175
Like the angels, say, “We have no knowledge, O God, except what Thou hast taught us.”
قصهی اعرابی و ریگ در جوال کردن و ملامت کردن آن فیلسوف او را
Story of the desert Arab and his putting sand in the sack and the philosopher's rebuking him.
یک عرابی بار کرده اشتری ** دو جوال زفت از دانه پری
A certain Arab of the desert loaded a camel with two big sacks—(there was) one full of grain.
او نشسته بر سر هر دو جوال ** یک حدیث انداز کرد او را سؤال
He was seated on the top of both sacks. A glib philosopher questioned him.