-
ساعتی تاخیر کرد اندر شدن ** بعد از آن شد پیش شیر پنجه زن 1055
- He delayed awhile in going, then he went before the lion who rends (his prey) with claws.
-
ز آن سبب کاندر شدن او ماند دیر ** خاک را میکند و میغرید شیر
- Because he tarried late in going, the lion was tearing up the earth and roaring.
-
گفت من گفتم که عهد آن خسان ** خام باشد خام و سست و نارسان
- “I said,” cried the lion, “that the promise of those vile ones would be vain—vain and frail and unfulfilled.
-
دمدمهی ایشان مرا از خر فگند ** چند بفریبد مرا این دهر چند
- Their palaver has duped me: how long will this Time deceive me, how long?”
-
سخت درماند امیر سست ریش ** چون نه پس بیند نه پیش از احمقیش
- The prince that hath no strength in his beard is left sorely in the lurch when by reason of his folly he looks neither backwards nor forwards.
-
راه هموار است و زیرش دامها ** قحط معنی در میان نامها 1060
- The road is smooth, and under it are pitfalls: amidst the names there is a dearth of meaning.
-
لفظها و نامها چون دامهاست ** لفظ شیرین ریگ آب عمر ماست
- Words and names are like pitfalls: the sweet (flattering) word is the sand for (the sand that sucks up) the water of our life.
-
آن یکی ریگی که جوشد آب ازو ** سخت کمیاب است رو آن را بجو
- The one sand whence water gushes is seldom to be found: go, seek it.
-
منبع حکمت شود حکمت طلب ** فارغ آید او ز تحصیل و سبب
- He that searches after wisdom becomes a fountain of wisdom; he becomes independent of acquisition and (ways and) means.
-
لوح حافظ لوح محفوظی شود ** عقل او از روح محظوظی شود
- The guarding tablet becomes a Guarded Tablet; his understanding becomes enriched by the Spirit.