کودکان خرد را چون می‌زنی ** چون بزرگان را منزه می‌کنی
Why do you beat little children (when they do wrong), since (in theory) you make out that adults are exempt from blame?
آنک دزدد مال تو گویی بگیر ** دست و پایش را ببر سازش اسیر 3045
(In the case of) a man who steals your property, you say (to the magistrate), ‘Arrest him, cut off his hand and foot, make him a captive’;
وآنک قصد عورت تو می‌کند ** صد هزاران خشم از تو می‌دمد
And (in the case of) a man who visits your wife, a hundred thousand angers shoot up from you.
گر بیاید سیل و رخت تو برد ** هیچ با سیل آورد کینی خرد
(On the contrary), if a flood come and sweep away your household goods, will your reason bear any enmity towards the flood?
ور بیامد باد و دستارت ربود ** کی ترا با باد دل خشمی نمود
And if the wind came and carried off your turban, when did your heart show any anger against the wind?
خشم در تو شد بیان اختیار ** تا نگویی جبریانه اعتذار
The anger within you is a clear demonstration of (the existence of) a power of choice (in Man), so that you must not excuse yourself after the fashion of Necessitarians.
گر شتربان اشتری را می‌زند ** آن شتر قصد زننده می‌کند 3050
If a camel-driver goes on striking a camel, the camel will attack the striker.
خشم اشتر نیست با آن چوب او ** پس ز مختاری شتر بردست بو
The camel's anger is not (directed) against his stick: therefore the camel has got some notion of the power of choice (in Man).
هم‌چنین سگ گر برو سنگی زنی ** بر تو آرد حمله گردد منثنی
Similarly a dog, if you throw a stone at him, will rush at you and become contorted (with fury).
سنگ را گر گیرد از خشم توست ** که تو دوری و ندارد بر تو دست
If he seize the stone, ’tis because of his anger against you; for you are far off and he has no means of getting at you.
عقل حیوانی چو دانست اختیار ** این مگو ای عقل انسان شرم دار
Since the animal intelligence is conscious of the power of choice (in Man), do not thou, O human intelligence, hold this (Necessitarian doctrine). Be ashamed!
روشنست این لیکن از طمع سحور ** آن خورنده چشم می‌بندد ز نور 3055
This (power of choice) is manifest, but in his desire for the meal taken before dawn that (greedy) eater shuts his eyes to the light.
چونک کلی میل او نان خوردنیست ** رو به تاریکی نهد که روز نیست
Since all his desire is for eating bread, he sets his face towards the darkness, saying, ‘It is not (yet) day.’
حرص چون خورشید را پنهان کند ** چه عجب گر پشت بر برهان کند
Inasmuch as greed causes the sun to be hidden (from him), what wonder if he turn his back on the convincing proof?
حکایت هم در بیان تقریر اختیار خلق و بیان آنک تقدیر و قضا سلب کننده‌ی اختیار نیست
A Story illustrating and confirming the view that mankind have the power of choice, and showing that Pre-ordination and Predestination do not annul the power of choice.
گفت دزدی شحنه را کای پادشاه ** آنچ کردم بود آن حکم اله
A thief said to the magistrate, ‘O (my) king, that which I have done was decreed by God.’
گفت شحنه آنچ من هم می‌کنم ** حکم حقست ای دو چشم روشنم
The magistrate replied, ‘That which I am doing is also decreed by God, O light of my eyes.’
از دکانی گر کسی تربی برد ** کین ز حکم ایزدست ای با خرد 3060
If any one take a radish from a (greengrocer's) shop, saying, ‘This is decreed by God, O man of understanding,’
بر سرش کوبی دو سه مشت ای کره ** حکم حقست این که اینجا باز نه
You (the greengrocer) will give him two or three blows on the head with your fist, (as though to say), ‘O detestable man, this (beating) is God's decree that you put it (the radish) back here.’
در یکی تره چو این عذر ای فضول ** می‌نیاید پیش بقالی قبول
Since this excuse, O trifler, is not accepted (even) by a greengrocer in the case of (stealing) a single vegetable,
چون بدین عذر اعتمادی می‌کنی ** بر حوالی اژدهایی می‌تنی
How are you placing (such) a reliance on this excuse and frequenting the neighbourhood of (such) a dragon?
از چنین عذر ای سلیم نانبیل ** خون و مال و زن همه کردی سبیل
By (making) an excuse like this, O ignoble simpleton, you sacrifice all—your life, your property, and your wife;
هر کسی پس سبلت تو بر کند ** عذر آرد خویش را مضطر کند 3065
(For) afterwards every one will pluck your moustache and offer (the same) excuse and make himself out to be acting under compulsion.
حکم حق گر عذر می‌شاید ترا ** پس بیاموز و بده فتوی مرا
If ‘the decree of God’ seems to you a proper excuse, then instruct me and give me a canonical decision (on the point);
که مرا صد آرزو و شهوتست ** دست من بسته ز بیم و هیبتست
For I have a hundred desires and lusts, (but) my hand is tied by fear and awe (of God).
پس کرم کن عذر را تعلیم ده ** برگشا از دست و پای من گره
Do me a favour, then: teach me the excuse, untie the knots from my hands and feet!