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
لیک نه مرغ خسیس خانگی ** بلک مرغ دانش و فرزانگی300
But not the cheap domestic fowl; nay, but the bird of know ledge and wisdom.
تو بدان مانی کز آن نوری تهی ** زآنک بینی بر پلیدی می‌نهی
“Thou resemblest that (wicked man) for thou art devoid of that light, inasmuch as thou art putting thy nose to filth.
از فراقت زرد شد رخسار و رو ** برگ زردی میوه‌ی ناپخته تو
Because of being parted (from me) thy cheeks and face have become yellow (pale): thou art (a tree with) yellow leaves and unripened fruit,
دیگ ز آتش شد سیاه و دودفام ** گوشت از سختی چنین ماندست خام
The pot was blackened by the fire and became like smoke in colour, (but) the meat, on account of (its) hardness, has remained so raw as this!
هشت سالت جوش دادم در فراق ** کم نشد یک ذره خامیت و نفاق
Eight years have I boiled, thee in separation (from me): thy rawness and hypocrisy have not become less by a single mote.
غوره‌ی تو سنگ بسته کز سقام ** غوره‌ها اکنون مویزند و تو خام305
Thy young grape is indurated; for through sickness the (other) young grapes are now raisins, while thou art (still) immature.”
عذر خواستن آن عاشق از گناه خویش به تلبیس و روی پوش و فهم کردن معشوق آن را نیز
How the lover begged to be excused for his sin, (but) with duplicity and dissimulation; and how the beloved perceived that also.
گفت عاشق امتحان کردم مگیر ** تا ببینم تو حریفی یا ستیر
The lover said, “I made the trial—do not take offence—that I might see whether thou art a hetaera or a modest woman. [The lover said, “I made the trial—do not take offence—that I might see whether thou art a courtesan or a modest woman.]
من همی دانستمت بی‌امتحان ** لیک کی باشد خبر هم‌چون عیان
I was knowing (it) without the trial, but how should hearing be the same as seeing?
آفتابی نام تو مشهور و فاش ** چه زیانست ار بکردم ابتلاش
Thou art (like) the sun: thy name is renowned and known to all: what harm is there if I have tested it?
تو منی من خویشتن را امتحان ** می‌کنم هر روز در سود و زیان
Thou art I: every day I am making trial of myself in profit and loss (good and evil).
انبیا را امتحان کرده عدات ** تا شده ظاهر ازیشان معجزات310
The prophets were put to the trial by their enemies, with the result that miracles were displayed by them.