ابر را گر هست ظاهر رو ترش ** گلشن آرنده‌ست ابر و شوره‌کش
If the cloud apparently has a sour face, (yet) the cloud is the bringer-on of the rose-garden and the destroyer of the nitrous (barren) soil.
فکر غم را تو مثال ابر دان ** با ترش تو رو ترش کم کن چنان
Know that the thought of sorrow is like the cloud: do not look so sourly on the sour!
بوک آن گوهر به دست او بود ** جهد کن تا از تو او راضی رود
It may be that the pearl (of thy desire) is in its hand: endeavour that it may depart from thee well-pleased.
ور نباشد گوهر و نبود غنی ** عادت شیرین خود افزون کنی 3700
And if the pearl be not (in its hand) and it be not rich, (yet) thou wilt increase (strengthen) thy sweet habit.
جای دیگر سود دارد عادتت ** ناگهان روزی بر آید حاجتت
Thy habit will profit thee on another occasion: some day thy need will suddenly be fulfilled.
فکرتی کز شادیت مانع شود ** آن به امر و حکمت صانع شود
The thought that hinders thee from joy comes by the command and wise purpose of the Maker.
تو مخوان دو چار دانگش ای جوان ** بوک نجمی باشد و صاحب‌قران
O youth, do not call it worthless: it may be a (happy) star and endowed with imperial fortune.
تو مگو فرعیست او را اصل گیر ** تا بوی پیوسته بر مقصود چیر
Do not say it is a branch: take it to be the root, in order that thou mayst always be master of thy object of desire;
ور تو آن را فرع گیری و مضر ** چشم تو در اصل باشد منتظر 3705
For if thou take it to be (merely) a branch (derivative) and pernicious, thine eye will be waiting to see the root.
زهر آمد انتظارش اندر چشش ** دایما در مرگ باشی زان روش
Waiting to see is poison to (spiritual) perception: by that method thou wilt remain perpetually in death.
اصل دان آن را بگیرش در کنار ** بازره دایم ز مرگ انتظار
Recognise it as the root, clasp it to thy bosom, and be for ever delivered from the death of waiting to see.
نواختن سلطان ایاز را
How the Sultan (Mahmud) showed favour to Ayáz.
ای ایاز پر نیاز صدق‌کیش ** صدق تو از بحر و از کوهست بیش
“O Ayáz, who art full of humbleness and sincere in all thy ways, thy sincerity is mightier than sea and mountain.
نه به وقت شهوتت باشد عثار ** که رود عقل چو کوهت کاه‌وار
For thee there is no stumbling in the hour of lust, so that thy reason, which resembles a mountain (in solidity), should go (hither and thither) like a straw;
نه به وقت خشم و کینه صبرهات ** سست گردد در قرار و در ثبات 3710
Nor in the hour of anger and vengeance do thy powers of long-suffering fail to hold fast and firm.”
مردی این مردیست نه ریش و ذکر ** ورنه بودی شاه مردان کیر خر
Virilitas haec virilitas est, barba et penis non est; sin minus, rex virorum esset veretrum asini. [Manhood is this manliness, not (just) a beard and a penis; otherwise, an ass’s penis would be the king of men.]
حق کرا خواندست در قرآن رجال ** کی بود این جسم را آنجا مجال
Whom has God in the Qur’an called men? How should there be room for this body there?
روح حیوان را چه قدرست ای پدر ** آخر از بازار قصابان گذر
What worth has the animal soul? O father, come now, pass through the market of the butchers,
صد هزاران سر نهاده بر شکم ** ارزشان از دنبه و از دم کم
(And you will see) a hundred thousand (sheeps’) heads laid on paunches (tripe), of which (heads) the value is less than (that of) the fat caudal part and tail.
روسپی باشد که از جولان کیر ** عقل او موشی شود شهوت چو شیر 3715
Meretrix est (quaevis femina) cui penis impetu mens (tanquam) mus fiat, libido tanquam leo. [A prostitute is (one) who, due to the movement of a penis, (her) intellect becomes a mouse (and her) lust like a lion.]
وصیت کردن پدر دختر را کی خود را نگهدار تا حامله نشوی از شوهرت
How a father enjoined his daughter to take care lest she should become with child by her husband.
خواجه‌ای بودست او را دختری ** زهره‌خدی مه‌رخی سیمین‌بری
There was a Khwája who had a daughter with cheeks like (those of) Venus, a face like the moon, and a breast (white) as silver.
گشت بالغ داد دختر را به شو ** شو نبود اندر کفائت کفو او
(When) she reached maturity, he gave his daughter to a husband: as regards social rank the husband was not a (good) match for her.
خربزه چون در رسد شد آبناک ** گر بنشکافی تلف گردد هلاک
When a melon is ripe it becomes watery and goes to waste and ruin unless you slice it.
چون ضرورت بود دختر را بداد ** او بناکفوی ز تخویف فساد
Since it was (a case of) necessity, he gave his daughter to one who was not (socially) her match, in fear of the evil (that might ensue).