هدیه‌ی شاعر چه باشد شعر نو ** پیش محسن آرد و بنهد گرو
What is the poet's offering? A new poem: he brings it to the beneficent (patron) and deposits it as his stake.
محسنان با صد عطا و جود و بر ** زر نهاده شاعران را منتظر
The beneficent (on their part) have deposited gold and are waiting for the poets with a hundred gifts and liberalities and kindnesses.
پیششان شعری به از صدتنگ شعر ** خاصه شاعر کو گهر آرد ز قعر
In their eyes a poem (shi‘r) is better than a hundred bales of silk robes (sha‘r), especially (when it is composed by) a poet who fetches pearls from the depths.
آدمی اول حریص نان بود ** زانک قوت و نان ستون جان بود
At first a man is greedy for bread, because food and bread are the pillar (support) of life.
سوی کسب و سوی غصب و صد حیل ** جان نهاده بر کف از حرص و امل1190
On account of greed and expectation he runs every risk in the way of earning his livelihood and seizing property by violence and (employing) a hundred devices.
چون بنادر گشت مستغنی ز نان ** عاشق نامست و مدح شاعران
When, (as happens) rarely, he becomes independent of (earning his) bread, he is in love with fame and the praise of poets,
تا که اصل و فصل او را بر دهند ** در بیان فضل او منبر نهند
In order that they may give fruit to (may adorn) his root and branch and may set up a pulpit to declare his excellence,
تا که کر و فر و زر بخشی او ** هم‌چو عنبر بو دهد در گفت و گو
So that his pomp and magnificence and lavishing of gold may yield a perfume, like (that of) ambergris, in (their) song.
خلق ما بر صورت خود کرد حق ** وصف ما از وصف او گیرد سبق
God created us in His image: our qualities are instructed by (are modeled upon) His qualities.
چونک آن خلاق شکر و حمدجوست ** آدمی را مدح‌جویی نیز خوست1195
Inasmuch as the Creator desires thanksgiving and glorification, it is also the nature of man to desire praise,
خاصه مرد حق که در فضلست چست ** پر شود زان باد چون خیک درست
Especially the man of God, who is active in (showing) excellence: he becomes filled with that wind (of praise), like an undamaged leathern bag;
ور نباشد اهل زان باد دروغ ** خیک بدریدست کی گیرد فروغ
But if he (the recipient of praise) be not worthy, the bag is rent by that wind of falsehood: how should it receive lustre?
این مثل از خود نگفتم ای رفیق ** سرسری مشنو چو اهلی و مفیق
I have not invented this parable, O comrade: do not hear it (as though it were) silly, if thou art worthy and restored to thy senses.
این پیمبر گفت چون بشنید قدح ** که چرا فربه شود احمد به مدح
The Prophet (Mohammed) said (something like) this, when he heard vituperation (from the infidels who asked), “Why is Ahmad (Mohammed) made fat (happy) by praise?”
رفت شاعر پیش آن شاه و ببرد ** شعر اندر شکر احسان کان نمرد1200
The poet went to the king and brought a poem in thanks (and praise) for (his) beneficence, saying that it (beneficence) never died.
محسنان مردند و احسانها بماند ** ای خنک آن را که این مرکب براند
The beneficent died, and (their) acts of beneficence remained: oh, blest is he that rode this steed!
ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها
The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud!
گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو
The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.”
The king said to him, “Go: ’tis for thee to command; but make him happy, for he is my eulogist.”
گفت او را و دو صد اومیدلیس ** تو به من بگذار این بر من نویس
He (the vizier) said, “Leave him and two hundred (other) lickers-up of hope to me, and write this (down) against me.”
پس فکندش صاحب اندر انتظار ** شد زمستان و دی و آمد بهار
Then the minister threw him into (the pains of) expectation: winter and December passed and spring came.
شاعر اندر انتظارش پیر شد ** پس زبون این غم و تدبیر شد
In expectation of it (the reward) the poet grew old; then he was crushed by this anxiety and making shift to provide (the means of livelihood),
گفت اگر زر نه که دشنامم دهی ** تا رهد جانم ترا باشم رهی
And said (to the vizier), “If there is no gold (for me), please give me abuse, so that my soul may be delivered (from expectation) (and that) I may be thy (devoted) slave.
انتظارم کشت باری گو برو ** تا رهد این جان مسکین از گرو1225
Expectation has killed me: at least bid me go, that this wretched soul may be delivered from bondage.”
بعد از آنش داد ربع عشر آن ** ماند شاعر اندر اندیشه‌ی گران
After that, he (the vizier) gave him the fortieth part of that (gift): the poet remained in heavy thought,
کانچنان نقد و چنان بسیار بود ** این که دیر اشکفت دسته‌ی خار بود
(Thinking), “That (former gift) was so promptly paid and was so much: this one that blossomed late was (only) a handful of thorns.”
پس بگفتندش که آن دستور راد ** رفت از دنیا خدا مزدت دهاد
Then they (the courtiers) said to him, “That generous vizier has departed from this life: may God reward thee!
که مضاعف زو همی‌شد آن عطا ** کم همی‌افتاد بخشش را خطا
For those gifts were always multiplied (increased in amount) by him: there was no fault to be found with the donations (then);
این زمان او رفت و احسان را ببرد ** او نمرد الحق بلی احسان بمرد1230
(But) now, he is gone and has taken beneficence away (with him): he is not dead, (but) beneficence is dead (in this world), yea, verily.
رفت از ما صاحب راد و رشید ** صاحب سلاخ درویشان رسید
The generous and upright minister is gone from us; the minister who is a flayer of the poor has arrived.
رو بگیر این را و زینجا شب گریز ** تا نگیرد با تو این صاحب‌ستیز
Go, take this (money) and flee from here by night, lest this minister pick a quarrel with thee.
ما به صد حیلت ازو این هدیه را ** بستدیم ای بی‌خبر از جهد ما
We have obtained this gift from him by a hundred devices, O thou who art ignorant of our exertions.”
رو بایشان کرد و گفت ای مشفقان ** از کجا آمد بگویید این عوان
He turned his face to them and said, “O kindly men, tell (me), whence came this myrmidon (ruffian)?
چیست نام این وزیر جامه‌کن ** قوم گفتندش که نامش هم حسن1235
What is the name of this vizier who tears off the clothes (of the poor)?” The company (of courtiers) said to him, “His name too is Hasan.”