رو همی گرداند از ارشادشان ** که نمی‌بیند به دیده دادشان
He averts his face from their guidance because he does not see their gift with his eye.
گر ز گوشش تا به حلقش ره بدی ** سر نصح اندر درونشان در شدی 3925
If there were a passage from his ear to his throat, the hidden meaning of their admonition would have entered his inward parts.
چون همه نارست جانش نیست نور ** که افکند در نار سوزان جز قشور
Inasmuch as his spirit is wholly fire, not light, who would throw anything but husks into a blazing fire?
مغز بیرون ماند و قشر گفت رفت ** کی شود از قشر معده گرم و زفت
The kernel remains outside and the husk, (consisting of mere) words, goes (in): how should the stomach be made warm and stout by husks?
نار دوزخ جز که قشر افشار نیست ** نار را با هیچ مغزی کار نیست
The Fire of Hell torments only the husks: the Fire has nothing to do with any kernel;
ور بود بر مغز ناری شعله‌زن ** بهر پختن دان نه بهر سوختن
And if a fire should dart its flames at the kernel, know that ’tis in order to cook it, not to burn it.
تا که باشد حق حکیم این قاعده ** مستمر دان در گذشته و نامده 3930
So long as God is the Wise, know that this law is perpetual (both) in the past and in the time that has not (yet) come.
مغز نغز و قشرها مغفور ازو ** مغز را پس چون بسوزد دور ازو
The pure kernels and (also) the husks are pardoned by Him: how, then, should He burn the kernel? Far (be it) from Him!
از عنایت گر بکوبد بر سرش ** اشتها آید شراب احمرش
If in His grace He beat the head of him (who resembles the husk), he (such an one) will feel an eager desire for the red wine;
ور نکوبد ماند او بسته‌دهان ** چون فقیه از شرب و بزم این شهان
And if He do not beat him, he will remain, like the jurist, with his mouth closed against the potations and festivity of these (spiritual) kings.
گفت شه با ساقیش ای نیک‌پی ** چه خموشی ده به طبعش آر هی
The king said to his cup-bearer, “O well-conducted (youth), why art thou silent? Give (it him) and put him in good humour.”
هست پنهان حاکمی بر هر خرد ** هرکه را خواهد به فن از سر برد 3935
Over every mind there is a hidden Ruler, (who) cunningly diverts from his purpose whomsoever He will.
آفتاب مشرق و تنویر او ** چون اسیران بسته در زنجیر او
The sun in the East and his radiance are bound like captives in His chain.
چرخ را چرخ اندر آرد در زمن ** چون بخواند در دماغش نیم فن
He causes the (celestial) sphere to revolve immediately when He chants half of a cunning spell in its brain.
عقل کو عقل دگر را سخره کرد ** مهره زو دارد ویست استاد نرد
The mind which dominates another mind has (obtains) the dice (of victory) from Him: He is the Master-player.
چند سیلی بر سرش زد گفت گیر ** در کشید از بیم سیلی آن زحیر
He (the cup-bearer) gave him (the jurist) several cuffs on the head, saying, “Take (the cup)!” The tormented man drained it in dread of (receiving further) blows.
مست گشت و شاد و خندان شد چو باغ ** در ندیمی و مضاحک رفت و لاغ 3940
He became tipsy and merry and smiling (gay) as a garden: he began to act like a boon-companion and tell ridiculous stories and make jokes.
شیرگیر و خوش شد انگشتک بزد ** سوی مبرز رفت تا میزک کند
He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: in latrinam ivit ut mingeret. [He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: he went to the latrine in order to urinate.]
یک کنیزک بود در مبرز چو ماه ** سخت زیبا و ز قرناقان شاه
Erat in latrina puella lunae similis, venustissima, una de regis ancillis. [A maiden as (lovely as) the (full) moon was in the latrine, very beautiful and one of the maidservants of the king.]
چون بدید او را دهانش باز ماند ** عقل رفت و تن ستم‌پرداز ماند
When he espied her, his mouth gaped in amazement, his reason fled and his body was ready for violence.
عمرها بوده عزب مشتاق و مست ** بر کنیزک در زمان در زد دو دست
Per aeva coelebs vixerat: extemplo cupidine et furore accensus puellae manus injecit. [He had been a bachelor (for) ages: passionate and drunk (with lust), he immediately grabbed the maidservant (with his) two hands.]
بس طپید آن دختر و نعره فراشت ** بر نیامد با وی و سودی نداشت 3945
Valde trepidavit puella et clamorem sustulit: ei non poterat resistere, operam perdidit. [The maiden trembled greatly and raised a clamor: she could not oppose him and (her resistance) had no benefit.]
زن به دست مرد در وقت لقا ** چون خمیر آمد به دست نانبا
Femina viro in manus tempore congressus tradita is like dough in the hands of a baker. [A woman in the hands of a man at the moment of (such an) encounter is like dough in the hands of a baker.]
بسرشد گاهیش نرم و گه درشت ** زو بر آرد چاق چاقی زیر مشت
He kneads it now gently, now roughly, and makes it groan under (the thumps of) his fist;
گاه پهنش واکشد بر تخته‌ای ** درهمش آرد گهی یک لخته‌ای
Now he draws it out flat on a board (rolling-pin), now for a bit he rolls it up;