تا میان اندر حدث او تا به شب ** غرق دباغیست او روزی‌طلب275
Up to the waist in filth, he is absorbed in the tanner's craft till nightfall, seeking his livelihood.
پس چنین گفتست جالینوس مه ** آنچ عادت داشت بیمار آنش ده
Thus then has the great Jálínús (Galen) said: ‘Give the patient that to which he was habituated (before his illness);
کز خلاف عادتست آن رنج او ** پس دوای رنجش از معتاد جو
For his illness arises from doing the contrary to (his usual) habit: therefore seek the remedy for his illness in that which is habitual (to him).’
چون جعل گشتست از سرگین‌کشی ** از گلاب آید جعل را بیهشی
He (the tanner), from carrying dung, has become like the dung-beetle: the dung-beetle is made insensible by rose-water.
هم از آن سرگین سگ داروی اوست ** که بدان او را همی معتاد و خوست
The remedy for him consists in that same dog's dung to which he is habituated and accustomed.”
الخبیثات الخبیثین را بخوان ** رو و پشت این سخن را باز دان280
Recite (the text), the wicked women for the wicked men: recognise (both) the front and the back of this saying.
ناصحان او را به عنبر یا گلاب ** می دوا سازند بهر فتح باب
The sincere mentors prepare medicine for him (the wicked man) with ambergris or rose-water to open the door (of Divine Mercy);
مر خبیثان را نسازد طیبات ** درخور و لایق نباشد ای ثقات
(But) sweet words will not do for the wicked: ’tis not fitting and suitable, O ye trusty ones!
چون زعطر وحی کژ گشتند و گم ** بد فغانشان که تطیرنا بکم
When from the perfume of the Revelation they (the wicked infidels) became crooked (disordered in mind) and lost (in error), their lament was, “We augur evil from you.
رنج و بیماریست ما را این مقال ** نیست نیکو وعظتان ما را به فال
This discourse (of yours) is illness and sickness to us: your exhortation is not of good omen to us.
گر بیاغازید نصحی آشکار ** ما کنیم آن دم شما را سنگسار285
If ye once begin to admonish (us) overtly, at that instant we will stone you.
ما بلغو و لهو فربه گشته‌ایم ** در نصیحت خویش را نسرشته‌ایم
We have waxed fat on frivolity and diversion: we have not steeped ourselves in admonition.
هست قوت ما دروغ و لاف و لاغ ** شورش معده‌ست ما را زین بلاغ
Our food is falsehood and idle boasts and jests: our stomachs are turned by your delivering this message.
رنج را صدتو و افزون می‌کنید ** عقل را دارو به افیون می‌کنید
Ye are making the illness hundredfold and more: ye are drugging the intelligence with opium.”
معالجه کردن برادر دباغ دباغ را به خفیه به بوی سرگین
How the tanner’s brother sought to cure him secretly with the smell of dung.
خلق را می‌راند از وی آن جوان ** تا علاجش را نبینند آن کسان
The youth kept driving the people away from him (the tanner), in order that those persons might not see his treatment (of the sick man).
سر به گوشش برد هم‌چون رازگو ** پس نهاد آن چیز بر بینی او290
He brought his head (close) to his ear, like one telling a secret; then he put the thing (which he had in his hand) to his (the tanner’s) nose;
کو به کف سرگین سگ ساییده بود ** داروی مغز پلید آن دیده بود
For he had rubbed the dog’s dung on his palm: he had deemed it (to be) the remedy for the polluted brain.
ساعتی شد مرد جنبیدن گرفت ** خلق گفتند این فسونی بد شگفت
A short while passed: the man began to move: the people said, “This was a wonderful charm;
کین بخواند افسون به گوش او دمید ** مرده بود افسون به فریادش رسید
For this (youth) recited charms and breathed (them) into his ear: he was dead: the charms came to succour him.”
جنبش اهل فساد آن سو بود ** که زنا و غمزه و ابرو بود
The movement of iniquitous folk is to the quarter in which there is fornication and ogling glances and eyebrows.
هر کرا مشک نصیحت سود نیست ** لا جرم با بوی بد خو کردنیست295
Any one to whom the musk, admonition, is of no use must necessarily make himself familiar with the bad smell.
مشرکان را زان نجس خواندست حق ** کاندرون پشک زادند از سبق
God has called the polytheists najas (uncleanness)’ for the reason that they were born in dung from of old.
کرم کو زادست در سرگین ابد ** می‌نگرداند به عنبر خوی خود
The worm that has been born in dung will nevermore change its evil nature by means of ambergris.
چون نزد بر وی نثار رش نور ** او همه جسمست بی‌دل چون قشور
Since the largesse of sprinkled light did not strike upon him (the wicked man), he is wholly body, without heart (spirit), like (empty) husks.
ور ز رش نور حق قسمیش داد ** هم‌چو رسم مصر سرگین مرغ‌زاد
And if God gave him a portion of the sprinkled light, the dung hatched a bird, as is the custom in Egypt— so