روت بس زیباست نیلی هم بکش ** ضحکه باشد نیل بر روی حبش
(If) your face is very beautiful, put some indigo on it (as an ornament); (but) indigo on the face of an Abyssinian (negro) would be a laughing-stock.
در تو نوری کی درآمد ای غوی ** تا تو بیهوشی و ظلمت‌جو شوی
When did any (spiritual) light enter into you, O misguided man, that you should become a seeker of unconsciousness and darkness?
سایه در روزست جستن قاعده ** در شب ابری تو سایه‌جو شده
’Tis the (approved) rule to seek the shadow during the day; (but) you seek the shadow on a cloudy night.
گر حلال آمد پی قوت عوام ** طالبان دوست را آمد حرام
If it (wine) is lawful as sustenance for the common folk, (yet) it is unlawful to those who seek the Beloved.
عاشقان را باده خون دل بود ** چشمشان بر راه و بر منزل بود 3485
The wine for the lovers (of God) is their heart's blood: their eyes are (fixed) upon the Way and upon the Destination.
در چنین راه بیابان مخوف ** این قلاوز خرد با صد کسوف
In this Way across the terrible wilderness the guide, Reason, suffers a hundred eclipses.
خاک در چشم قلاوزان زنی ** کاروان را هالک و گمره کنی
(If) you throw dust in the eyes of the guides, you will cause the caravan to perish and lose the way.
نان جو حقا حرامست و فسوس ** نفس را در پیش نه نان سبوس
In sooth, barley bread is unlawful and injurious to the carnal soul: set (only) bread made of bran before it.
دشمن راه خدا را خوار دار ** دزد را منبر منه بر دار دار
Keep in abject submission the enemy on the Way to God: do not place a pulpit for the robber, (but) keep him on the gibbet.
دزد را تو دست ببریدن پسند ** از بریدن عاجزی دستش ببند 3490
Deem the amputation of the robber's hand desirable: if you are unable to cut his hand off, bind it.
گر نبندی دست او دست تو بست ** گر تو پایش نشکنی پایت شکست
Unless you bind his hand, he will bind yours; unless you break his leg, he will break yours.
تو عدو را می دهی و نی‌شکر ** بهر چه گو زهر خند و خاک خور
You give the enemy wine and sugar-cane—for what reason? Bid him laugh venomously and eat earth.”
زد ز غیرت بر سبو سنگ و شکست ** او سبو انداخت و از زاهد بجست
In his indignation he (the ascetic) hurled a stone at the jug and broke it: he (the slave) let the jug fall and sprang away from the ascetic.
رفت پیش میر و گفتش باده کو ** ماجرا را گفت یک یک پیش او
He went to the Amír, who said to him, “Where is the wine?” He (the slave) related in his presence all that had happened, point by point.
رفتن امیر خشم‌آلود برای گوشمال زاهد
How the enraged Amír set out to punish the ascetic.
میر چون آتش شد و برجست راست ** گفت بنما خانه‌ی زاهد کجاست 3495
The Amír became like fire and jumped straight up. “Show me,” he cried, “where the ascetic's house is,
تا بدین گرز گران کوبم سرش ** آن سر بی‌دانش مادرغرش
That I may pound his head with this heavy club—his ignorant whoreson head.
او چه داند امر معروف از سگی ** طالب معروفی است و شهرگی
What should he know about enjoining (others) to do right? He is currishly seeking notoriety and fame,
تا بدین سالوس خود را جا کند ** تا به چیزی خویشتن پیدا کند
In order that by means of this hypocrisy he may make a position for himself and somehow make himself conspicuous;
کو ندارد خود هنر الا همان ** که تسلس می‌کند با این و آن
For in truth he has no talent save this alone, that he plays the hypocrite to all and sundry.
او اگر دیوانه است و فتنه‌کاو ** داروی دیوانه باشد کیر گاو 3500
If he is mad and bent on mischief, the cure for a madman is an ox-hide whip, [If he is mad and bent on mischief, the cure for a madman is a whip (made from) an ox’s penis,]
تا که شیطان از سرش بیرون رود ** بی‌لت خربندگان خر چون رود
So that the devil may go forth from his head: how should an ass go (forward) without the ass-drivers' blows?”