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گفت هستند آن عیالم منتظر ** بهر فرزندان تو ای اهل بر
- He (the countryman) said, “My family are (anxiously) expecting your children, O benefactor.”
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باز هر سالی چو لکلک آمدی ** تا مقیم قبه‌ی شهری شدی 250
- Every year he was coming back, like the stork, to reside in the townsman's pavilion,
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خواجه هر سالی ز زر و مال خویش ** خرج او کردی گشادی بال خویش
- And every year the Khwája would expend his gold and wealth upon him and open his wings (wide).
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آخرین کرت سه ماه آن پهلوان ** خوان نهادش بامدادان و شبان
- On the last occasion, that paladin set dishes (of food) before him at morn and eve for three months.
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از خجالت باز گفت او خواجه را ** چند وعده چند بفریبی مرا
- From shame he again said to the Khwája, “How long (nothing but) promises? How long will you deceive me?”
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گفت خواجه جسم و جانم وصل‌جوست ** لیک هر تحویل اندر حکم هوست
- The Khwája said, “My body and soul are eager for the meeting, but every change depends on the decree of Him (God).
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آدمی چون کشتی است و بادبان ** تا کی آرد باد را آن بادران 255
- Man is like a ship or sail: (he must wait) to see when the Driver of the wind shall send the (favourable) breeze.”
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باز سوگندان بدادش کای کریم ** گیر فرزندان بیا بنگر نعیم
- Once more he (the countryman) adjured him, crying, “O generous man, take your children and come and behold the pleasures (of the country).”
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دست او بگرفت سه کرت بعهد ** کالله الله زو بیا بنمای جهد
- He took his hand three times in covenant, saying, “In God's name, come quickly, make the utmost effort!”
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بعد ده سال و بهر سالی چنین ** لابه‌ها و وعده‌های شکرین
- After ten years—and every year the same sugared entreaties and promises—
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کودکان خواجه گفتند ای پدر ** ماه و ابر و سایه هم دارد سفر
- The Khwája's children said, “O father, the moon and the clouds and the shadows too have their journeys.
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حقها بر وی تو ثابت کرده‌ای ** رنجها در کار او بس برده‌ای 260
- You have laid obligations on him, you have taken great pains on his account,
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او همی‌خواهد که بعضی حق آن ** وا گزارد چون شوی تو میهمان
- And he wishes to repay some part of that obligation when you become his guest.
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بس وصیت کرد ما را او نهان ** که کشیدش سوی ده لابه‌کنان
- He gave us many injunctions in secret: ‘Bring him to the country,’ said he, ‘coaxing (him to come).’”
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گفت حقست این ولی ای سیبویه ** اتق من شر من احسنت الیه
- He (the townsman) said, “This is true, but, O Síbawayh, be on thy guard against the malice of him to whom thou hast shown kindness.
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دوستی تخم دم آخر بود ** ترسم از وحشت که آن فاسد شود
- Love is the seed (that bears fruit at the moment) of the last breath: I fear that it may be corrupted by estrangement.”
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صحبتی باشد چو شمشیر قطوع ** همچو دی در بوستان و در زروع 265
- There is a friendship like a cutting sword, (destructive) as December in the gardens and cornfields;
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صحبتی باشد چو فصل نوبهار ** زو عمارتها و دخل بی‌شمار
- There is a friendship like the season of spring, whence (come) restorations and produce incalculable.
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حزم آن باشد که ظن بد بری ** تا گریزی و شوی از بد بری
- Prudence is this, that you think evil, so that you may flee and become quit of evil.
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حزم س الظن گفتست آن رسول ** هر قدم را دام می‌دان ای فضول
- The Prophet has said, “Prudence is (consists in) thinking evil”: know that for every footstep there is a snare, O fool!
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روی صحرا هست هموار و فراخ ** هر قدم دامیست کم ران اوستاخ
- The surface of the plateau is level and broad, (but at) every step there is a snare: do not advance boldly.
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آن بز کوهی دود که دام کو ** چون بتازد دامش افتد در گلو 270
- The mountain-goat runs on, saying, “Where is the snare?” As it speeds onward, the snare lights on its throat.
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آنک می‌گفتی که کو اینک ببین ** دشت می‌دیدی نمی‌دیدی کمین
- O thou who saidst “Where?” look and see! Thou sawest the plain, (but) thou didst not see the ambush.
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بی کمین و دام و صیاد ای عیار ** دنبه کی باشد میان کشت‌زار
- Without ambush and snare and hunter, O cunning one, how should there be a sheep's tail (laid in a trap) amidst the cornfield?
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آنک گستاخ آمدند اندر زمین ** استخوان و کله‌هاشان را ببین
- They that came along boldly on the earth—see their bones and skulls!