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.
عکس می‌دان نقش دیباجه‌ی جهان ** نام هر بنده‌ی جهان خواجه‌ی جهان
Know that what is depicted on this mundane frontispiece is preposterous: every slave to the world is named “lord of the world.”
ای تن کژ فکرت معکوس‌رو ** صد هزار آزاد را کرده گرو
O wrong-thinking perversely-acting body, thou that hast enthralled a hundred thousand freemen,
مدتی بگذار این حیلت پزی ** چند دم پیش از اجل آزاد زی
Abandon this guileful plotting for a time: live free a few moments ere thou die;
ور در آزادیت چون خر راه نیست ** هم‌چو دلوت سیر جز در چاه نیست 4445
For if, like the (heavily-laden) ass, thou hast no way of attaining to freedom, thy movement, like that of the bucket, can only be (down) into the well.
مدتی رو ترک جان من بگو ** رو حریف دیگری جز من بجو
Go, take leave of my spirit for awhile: go, seek another companion instead of me.
نوبت من شد مرا آزاد کن ** دیگری را غیر من داماد کن
My turn is finished: set me free, espouse another, (beguile) some one else.
ای تن صدکاره ترک من بگو ** عمر من بردی کسی دیگر بجو
O body with thy hundred (worldly) concerns, bid me farewell: thou hast taken my life: (now) seek another (victim).
مفتون شدن قاضی بر زن جوحی و در صندوق ماندن و نایب قاضی صندوق را خریدن باز سال دوم آمدن زن جوحی بر امید بازی پارینه و گفتن قاضی کی مرا آزاد کن و کسی دیگر را بجوی الی آخر القصه
How a cadi was infatuated with the wife of Júhí and remained (hidden) in a chest, and how the cadi's deputy purchased the chest; and how next year (when) Júhí's wife came again, hoping to play the same trick (which had succeeded) last year, the cadi said (to her), “Set me free and seek some one else”; and so on to the end of the story.