آب شوری نیست در مان عطش ** وقت خوردن گر نماید سرد و خوش
A briny water is no remedy for thirst: (even) if it seem cold and delicious at the moment of drinking,
لیک خادع گشته و مانع شد ز جست ** ز آب شیرینی کزو صد سبزه رست
Yet it beguiles (you) and prevents (you) from seeking the sweet water by which a hundred plants are made to grow.
هم‌چنین هر زر قلبی مانعست ** از شناس زر خوش هرجا که هست
Likewise every piece of spurious gold prevents (you) from recognising the good (genuine) gold wherever it is (to be found).
پا و پرت را به تزویری برید ** که مراد تو منم گیر ای مرید
It (the spurious gold) cuts off your feet and (clips) your wings by imposture, saying, “I am what you seek: take me, O seeker.”
گفت دردت چینم او خود درد بود ** مات بود ار چه به ظاهر برد بود 4310
It says, “I will remove thy passion,” (but) in truth it is (worthless as) dregs: it is (really) checkmate (defeat) though it is victory in appearance.
رو ز درمان دروغین می‌گریز ** تا شود دردت مصیب و مشک‌بیز
Go, always be fleeing from the false remedy, in order that thy passion may be successful and rich in perfume.
گفت نه دزدی تو و نه فاسقی ** مرد نیکی لیک گول و احمقی
He (the night-patrol) said, “You are not a thief and you are not a reprobate: you are a good man, but you are foolish and silly.
بر خیال و خواب چندین ره کنی ** نیست عقلت را تسوی روشنی
You make such a long journey, (relying) on a phantasy and (mere) dream: your intelligence has not the least spark of brightness.
بارها من خواب دیدم مستمر ** که به بغدادست گنجی مستتر
I have dreamed many times, continuously, that there is a concealed treasure at Baghdád,
در فلان سوی و فلان کویی دفین ** بود آن خود نام کوی این حزین 4315
Buried in such-and-such a quarter and such-and-such a street” —the name, in fact, was that of the street where this sorrowful man lived.
هست در خانه‌ی فلانی رو بجو ** نام خانه و نام او گفت آن عدو
“It is in so-and-so's house: go and seek it!”—the enemy (the night-patrol) named the house and mentioned his (the treasure-seeker's) name.
دیده‌ام خود بارها این خواب من ** که به بغدادست گنجی در وطن
“I myself have often dreamed that there is a treasure in the dwelling-place at Baghdád.
هیچ من از جا نرفتم زین خیال ** تو به یک خوابی بیایی بی‌ملال
I never left my home on account of this phantasy, (but) you in consequence of a single dream come (hither) without thinking of the fatigue.
خواب احمق لایق عقل ویست ** هم‌چو او بی‌قیمتست و لاشیست
The dreams of a fool are suitable to his intelligence: like it, they are worthless and good-for-nothing.
خواب زن کمتر ز خواب مرد دان ** از پی نقصان عقل و ضعف جان 4320
Know that a woman's dreams are inferior to those of a man because of her deficiency of intelligence and weakness of soul.
خواب ناقص‌عقل و گول آید کساد ** پس ز بی‌عقلی چه باشد خواب باد
The dreams of one deficient in intelligence and foolish are of little value: what, then, must be the dreams produced by (entire) lack of intelligence? (Mere) wind!”
گفت با خود گنج در خانه‌ی منست ** پس مرا آن‌جا چه فقر و شیونست
He (the treasure-seeker) said to himself, “The treasure is in my house: then why am I poverty-stricken and lamenting there?
بر سر گنج از گدایی مرده‌ام ** زانک اندر غفلت و در پرده‌ام
(While living) over the treasure, I have (almost) died of beggary because I am heedless and blind.”
زین بشارت مست شد دردش نماند ** صد هزار الحمد بی لب او بخواند
At this good news he was intoxicated (with joy): his sorrow vanished, and without (opening his) lips he chanted a hundred thousand praises to God.
گفت بد موقوف این لت لوت من ** آب حیوان بود در حانوت من 4325
He said, “My food (fortune) depended on (my suffering) these blows: the Water of life was in my shop (all the time).
رو که بر لوت شگرفی بر زدم ** کوری آن وهم که مفلس بدم
Begone, for I have met with a great piece of fortune, to confound the idea that I was destitute.
خواه احمق‌دان مرا خواهی فرو ** آن من شد هرچه می‌خواهی بگو
Deem me foolish or contemptible as you please: it (the treasure) is mine, say what you like.
من مراد خویش دیدم بی‌گمان ** هرچه خواهی گو مرا ای بددهان
Beyond doubt I have seen my wish (fulfilled): call me anything you please, O foul-mouthed one!
تو مرا پر درد گو ای محتشم ** پیش تو پر درد و پیش خود خوشم
Call me sorrowful, O respected sir: in your view I am sorrowful, but in my view I am happy.
وای اگر بر عکس بودی این مطار ** پیش تو گلزار و پیش خویش راز 4330
Alas, if the case had been reversed (and if I had been like) a rose-garden in your view and miserable in my own!”