ز آن که آلت دعوی است و هستی است ** کار در بی‌‌آلتی و پستی است
Because the means (ability) is (involves) pretension and self-existence: the (pith of the) matter lies in lack of means (inability) and non-existence.”
گفت کی بی‌‌آلتی سودا کنم ** تا نه من بی‌‌آلتی پیدا کنم
“How,” said he, “should I do business without means, unless I make it manifest that I (really) have no means?
پس گواهی بایدم بر مفلسی ** تا شهم رحمی کند یا مونسی
Therefore I must needs have attestation of my want of means, that the King who wants naught may take pity on me.
تو گواهی غیر گفت‌‌وگو و رنگ ** وانما تا رحم آرد شاه شنگ2700
Do thou produce some attestation besides talk and show, so that the beauteous King may take pity,
کاین گواهی که ز گفت و رنگ بد ** نزد آن قاضی القضاة آن جرح شد
For the testimony that consisted of talk and show was (ever) invalidated before that Supreme Judge.
صدق می‌‌خواهد گواه حال او ** تا بتابد نور او بی‌‌قال او
He requires truth (veracity) as witness to his (the indigent man's) state, so that his (inner) light shall shine forth (and proclaim his indigence) without any words of his.”
هدیه بردن عرب سبوی آب باران از میان بادیه سوی بغداد به نزد خلیفه بر پنداشت آن که آن جا هم قحط آب است
How the Arab carried a jug of rain-water from the midst of the desert as a gift to the Commander of the Faithful at Baghdád, in the belief that in that town also there was a scarcity of water.
گفت زن صدق آن بود کز بود خویش ** پاک برخیزی تو از مجهود خویش
The wife said, “When with all thy might thou dost (endeavour to) rise up entirely purged of self-existence—that is veracity.
آب باران است ما را در سبو ** ملکت و سرمایه و اسباب تو
We have the rain-water in the jug: ’tis thy property and capital and means.
این سبوی آب را بردار و رو ** هدیه ساز و پیش شاهنشاه شو2705
Take this jug of water and depart, make it a gift and go into the presence of the King of kings.
گو که ما را غیر این اسباب نیست ** در مفازه هیچ به زین آب نیست
Say, ‘We have no means except this: in the desert there is nothing better than this water.’