کار بی‌استاد خواهی ساختن ** جاهلانه جان بخواهی باختن
Thou wilt set to work without the expert and wilt foolishly hazard thy life.
ای ز من دزدیده علمی ناتمام ** ننگ آمد که بپرسی حال دام 1405
O thou who hast stolen from me an imperfect knowledge, thou wert ashamed to ask about the trap.”
هم بچیدی دانه مرغ از خرمنش ** هم نیفتادی رسن در گردنش
(If) the bird had picked the grain from its stack, the (trap-) cord would not have fallen on its neck (and made it captive).
دانه کمتر خور مکن چندین رفو ** چون کلوا خواندی بخوان لا تسرفوا
Eat less of the grain, do not patch (the body) so much (with food): after having recited eat ye, recite (also) do not exceed,
تا خوری دانه نیفتی تو به دام ** این کند علم و قناعت والسلام
So that you may eat the grain and (yet) not fall into the trap. Knowledge and contentment effect this. And (now) farewell.
نعمت از دنیا خورد عاقل نه غم ** جاهلان محروم مانده در ندم
The wise man gets happiness from the present life, not sorrow, (while) the ignorant are left in disappointment and regret.
چون در افتد در گلوشان حبل دام ** دانه خوردن گشت بر جمله حرام 1410
When the trap-cord (of sensuality) falls on their throats, it becomes unlawful (forbidden) to them all to eat the grain.
مرغ اندر دام دانه کی خورد ** دانه چون زهرست در دام ار چرد
How should the bird in the trap eat (enjoy) the grain? The grain in the trap is like poison (to him), if he feed (on it).
مرغ غافل می‌خورد دانه ز دام ** هم‌چو اندر دام دنیا این عوام
(Only) the heedless bird will eat grain from the trap, as these common folk do in the trap of the present world.
باز مرغان خبیر هوشمند ** کرده‌اند از دانه خود را خشک‌بند
Again, the knowing and prudent birds have debarred themselves from the grain;
که اندرون دام دانه زهرباست ** کور آن مرغی که در فخ دانه خواست
For the grain in the trap is poisonous food: blind is the bird that desires the grain in the trap.
صاحب دام ابلهان را سر برید ** وآن ظریفان را به مجلسها کشید 1415
The Owner of the trap cut off the heads of the foolish ones, and conducted the clever ones to the (exalted) assembly-places;
که از آنها گوشت می‌آید به کار ** وز ظریفان بانگ و ناله‌ی زیر و زار
For in the former (only) the flesh is serviceable, but in the clever ones (their) song and warble soft and low.
پس کنیزک آمد از اشکاف در ** دید خاتون را به مرده زیر خر
Deinde venit ancilla perque rimam januae heram videt sub asino mortuam. [Then, the maidservant arrived. Through a crack in the door, she saw the lady dead under the ass.]
گفت ای خاتون احمق این چه بود ** گر ترا استاد خود نقشی نمود
“O hera stulta,” inquit, “hoc (facinus ineptum) quid fuit, etsi ea quae perita est technam tibi ostenderat? [She said, “O foolish lady, what was this (foolish deed), even if your teacher showed you a plan (of the method)?]
ظاهرش دیدی سرش از تو نهان ** اوستا ناگشته بگشادی دکان
Technae quod patebat vidisti, tibi ignotum quod latebat: imperita tabernam aperuisti. [You saw its outward (form); its secret (was) hidden from you. Not having become a master (of the craft), you opened the shop.]
کیر دیدی هم‌چو شهد و چون خبیص ** آن کدو را چون ندیدی ای حریص 1420
Veretrum tanquam mel vel cibum ex dactylis et butyro comparatum vidisti: cur illam cucurbitam non vidisti, O avida? [You saw the penis, like honey or like dates (cooked with flour and butter): why did you not see the gourd, O greedy one?]
یا چون مستغرق شدی در عشق خر ** آن کدو پنهان بماندت از نظر
Vel cur, cum asini amore obruta esses, cucurbita visu tuo sejuncta manebat? [Or (why), when you were immersed in love for the ass, did the gourd remain hidden from your sight?]
ظاهر صنعت بدیدی زوستاد ** اوستادی برگرفتی شاد شاد
Docta ab ea quae perita est vidisti technae speciem externam: peritiam ipsa valde gaudens assumpsisti.” [You saw the external (form) of the craft from the master, (and then) you assumed expertise very joyfully. ]
ای بسا زراق گول بی‌وقوف ** از ره مردان ندیده غیر صوف
Oh, there is many a stupid ignorant hypocrite who has seen nothing of the Way of the (holy) men except the woollen mantle (súf).
ای بسا شوخان ز اندک احتراف ** از شهان ناموخته جز گفت و لاف
Oh, there are many impudent fellows who, with little practice (in the religious life), have learned from the (spiritual) kings nothing but talk and brag.
هر یکی در کف عصا که موسی‌ام ** می‌دمد بر ابلهان که عیسی‌ام 1425
Every one (of them), staff (rod) in hand, says, “I am Moses,” and breathes upon the foolish folk, saying, “I am Jesus.”
آه از آن روزی که صدق صادقان ** باز خواهد از تو سنگ امتحان
Alas the Day when the touchstone will demand from thee the sincerity of the sincere!
آخر از استاد باقی را بپرس ** یا حریصان جمله کورانند و خرس
Come, inquire of the Master (what is) the remainder (of the Way); or are the greedy ones all blind and deaf?
جمله جستی باز ماندی از همه ** صید گرگانند این ابله رمه
You craved all and you lost all: this foolish flock are the prey of wolves.