ما نمی‌گفتیم که اندر کش مکش ** اندر آتش هم‌چو زر خندید خوش
Did not we always say, ‘In the (hour of) struggle laugh happily like gold in the fire’?
مر سپه را وقت تنگاتنگ جنگ ** گفته ما که هین مگردانید رنگ
We said to the soldiers at the time of conflict in battle, ‘Hark, do not change colour (lose courage)!’
آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا ** جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا
At the time when the ground trodden underfoot by the horses was entirely (composed of) severed heads,
ما سپاه خویش را هی هی کنان ** که به پیش آیید قاهر چون سنان
We were shouting to our troops, ‘On, on! Advance irresistibly like the spearpoint!’
جمله عالم را نشان داده به صبر ** زانک صبر آمد چراغ و نور صدر 3900
We preached fortitude to all the world, because fortitude (we said) is a lamp and light in the breast.
نوبت ما شد چه خیره‌سر شدیم ** چون زنان زشت در چادر شدیم
Now it is our turn. Why have we become distracted and gone under the chádar (veil) like cowardly women?”
ای دلی که جمله را کردی تو گرم ** گرم کن خود را و از خود دار شرم
O heart that didst inspire all (others) with ardour, inspire thyself with ardour and be ashamed of thyself!
ای زبان که جمله را ناصح بدی ** نوبت تو گشت از چه تن زدی
O tongue that wert a mentor to all (others), now ’tis thy turn: why art thou silent?
ای خرد کو پند شکرخای تو ** دور تست این دم چه شد هیهای تو
O reason, where is thy eloquent and persuasive counsel? Now ’tis thy turn: what has become of thy (former) admonitions?
ای ز دلها برده صد تشویش را ** نوبت تو شد بجنبان ریش را 3905
O thou who hast removed a hundred anxieties from (other) hearts, now ’tis thy turn: wag thy beard!
از غری ریش ار کنون دزدیده‌ای ** پیش ازین بر ریش خود خندیده‌ای
If now, in thy vile poltroonery, thou hast (only) stolen a beard (art devoid of real manhood), formerly thou must have been laughing at thy beard (making a mock display of manly virtue).
وقت پند دیگرانی های های ** در غم خود چون زنانی وای وای
When thou exhortest others, (thy cry is), “Come on! come on!” In thine own anguish (thou criest), “Alas, alas!” like women.
چون به درد دیگران درمان بدی ** درد مهمان تو آمد تن زدی
Since thou wert a cure for others' pain, (how is it that) thou art silent when pain has become thy guest?
بانگ بر لشکر زدن بد ساز تو ** بانگ بر زن چه گرفت آواز تو
’Twas thy fashion to shout at the soldiers (to encourage them): (now) shout (at thyself): why is thy voice choked?
آنچ پنجه سال بافیدی به هوش ** زان نسیج خود بغلتانی بپوش 3910
For fifty years thou hast woven on (the loom of) thy intelligence: (now) put on an undervest of the fabric which thou thyself hast woven.
از نوایت گوش یاران بود خوش ** دست بیرون آر و گوش خود بکش
The ears of thy friends were delighted by thy song: (now) put forth thy hand and pull thine own ear.
سر بدی پیوسته خود را دم مکن ** پا و دست و ریش و سبلت گم مکن
(Formerly) thou wert always a head (leader): do not make thyself a tail, do not lose thy feet and hands and beard and moustache.
بازی آن تست بر روی بساط ** خویش را در طبع آر و در نشاط
(Now) ’tis for thee to make a move on the (chess-) board: restore thyself to thy normal state (of spiritual health) and thy (natural) vigour.
ذکر آن پادشاه که آن دانشمند را به اکراه در مجلس آورد و بنشاند ساقی شراب بر دانشمند عرضه کرد ساغر پیش او داشت رو بگردانید و ترشی و تندی آغاز کرد شاه ساقی را گفت کی هین در طبعش آر ساقی چندی بر سرش کوفت و شرابش در خورد داد الی آخره
Anecdote of a king who brought a learned doctor into his banquet-hall by force and made him sit down. (When) the cup-bearer offered him wine and held out the goblet to him, the doctor averted his face and began to look sour and behave rudely. The king said to the cup-bearer, “Come, put him in a good humour.” The cup-bearer beat him on the head several times and made him drink the wine, etc.
پادشاهی مست اندر بزم خوش ** می‌گذشت آن یک فقیهی بر درش
(Whilst) a drunken king was feasting merrily, a certain jurist passed by his gate.
کرد اشارت کش درین مجلس کشید ** وان شراب لعل را با او چشید 3915
He gave directions, saying, “Bring him into this hall and give him a drink of the ruby wine.”
پس کشیدندش به شه بی‌اختیار ** شست در مجلس ترش چون زهر و مار
So they brought him to the king, (for) he had no choice (power to resist): he sat down in the hall, (looking) sour as poison and snakes.
عرضه کردش می نپذرفت او به خشم ** از شه و ساقی بگردانید چشم
(When) he (the cup-bearer) offered him wine, he angrily refused it and averted his eyes from the king and the cup-bearer,
که به عمر خود نخوردستم شراب ** خوشتر آید از شرابم زهر ناب
Saying, “I have never drunk wine in my life: rank poison would please me better than wine.
هین به جای می به من زهری دهید ** تا من از خویش و شما زین وا رهید
Hey, give me some poison instead of the wine, that I may be delivered from myself and ye from this (impoliteness).”
می نخورده عربده آغاز کرد ** گشته در مجلس گران چون مرگ و درد 3920
Without having drunk wine, he began to make a row and became as disagreeable to the company as death and (its) pangs.