The office (business) that veils me from (the sight of) thy face is the very essence of unemployment, though it is called ‘office.’
موجب تاخیر اینجا آمدن ** فقد استعداد بود و ضعف فن
The cause of (his) delay in coming hither was lack of capability and defect of skill.”
بی ز استعداد در کانی روی ** بر یکی حبه نگردی محتوی 4425
(If) you go into a mine without (having) capability, you will not gain possession of a single grain (of gold),
هم‌چو عنینی که بکری را خرد ** گرچه سیمین‌بر بود کی بر خورد
Tanquam vir veneri inhabilis qui virginem emit: ea, etsi pectus argenteum (candidum) sit, frui quo pacto poterit? [Like an impotent man who buys a virgin (for a slave): even if she is a silver-breasted (beauty), how can he enjoy (her sexually)?]
چون چراغی بی ز زیت و بی فتیل ** نه کثیرستش ز شمع و نه قلیل
(The incapable man is) like a lamp without oil or wick that gets neither much nor little from the (flaming) taper.
در گلستان اندر آید اخشمی ** کی شود مغزش ز ریحان خرمی
(If) one who cannot smell enter a garden, how should his brain (nose) be delighted by the fragrant herbs?—
هم‌چو خوبی دلبری مهمان غر ** بانگ چنگ و بربطی در پیش کر
Tanquam formosa et venusta hospita viri debilis; (and) like the sound of a harp or lute in the ears of the deaf; [Like a beautiful (and) charming woman (who is) the guest of a feeble (impotent) man; (and like) the sound of a harp or lute in the ears of the deaf;]
هم‌چو مرغ خاک که آید در بحار ** زان چه یابد جز هلاک و جز خسار 4430
(And) like the land-bird that falls into great waters: what should it find there but death and perdition?
هم‌چو بی‌گندم شده در آسیا ** جز سپیدی ریش و مو نبود عطا
(And) like one who, having no wheat, goes to a mill: nothing will be given to him except the whitening of his beard and hair (with flour).
آسیای چرخ بر بی‌گندمان ** موسپیدی بخشد و ضعف میان
The celestial mill bestows on those who have no wheat (only) whiteness of hair and weakness in the loins;
لیک با باگندمان این آسیا ** ملک‌بخش آمد دهد کار و کیا
But on those who bring wheat with them this mill bestows empire and gives them sovereign power.
اول استعداد جنت بایدت ** تا ز جنت زندگانی زایدت
You must first be qualified for Paradise in order that from Paradise the (everlasting) life may be born to you.
طفل نو را از شراب و از کباب ** چه حلاوت وز قصور و از قباب 4435
What pleasure has the new-born child in wine and roast-meat and palaces and domes?
حد ندارد این مثل کم جو سخن ** تو برو تحصیل استعداد کن
These parables have no limit: do not seek (more) words (of this kind): go and acquire capability!
بهر استعداد تا اکنون نشست ** شوق از حد رفت و آن نامد به دست
(The announcer said), “He tarried until now for the sake of capability (qualification), (but) ere it was acquired his longing burst (all) bounds.”
گفت استعداد هم از شه رسد ** بی ز جان کی مستعد گردد جسد
He (the prince) said, “Capability too is imparted by the King: how should the body be made capable without (the intervention of) the soul?”
لطف‌های شه غمش را در نوشت ** شد که صید شه کند او صید گشت
(Then) the favours of the King did away with his anguish: he had gone to hunt the King: he became the King's prey.
هر که در اشکار چون تو صید شد ** صید را ناکرده قید او قید شد 4440
(The announcer said), “Whosoever goes in chase of a quarry like thee does not catch his quarry till he is himself caught.”
هرکه جویای امیری شد یقین ** پیش از آن او در اسیری شد رهین
’Tis certain that every seeker of princedom is thrown into captivity before (he gains) it.