ای که خلقان را تو خر می‌‌خوانده‌‌ای ** این زمان چون خر بر این یخ مانده‌‌ای‌‌

(But) O thou who hast called the people asses, at this time thou art left (floundering), like an ass, upon this ice.

گر تو علامه‌‌ی زمانی در جهان ** نک فنای این جهان بین وین زمان‌‌ 2845

If in the world thou art the most learned scholar of the time, behold the passing away of this world and this time!

مرد نحوی را از آن در دوختیم ** تا شما را نحو محو آموختیم‌‌

We have stitched in (inserted) the (story of the) grammarian, that we might teach you the grammar (nahw) of self-effacement (mahw).

فقه فقه و نحو نحو و صرف صرف ** در کم آمد یابی ای یار شگرف‌‌

In self-loss, O venerated friend, thou wilt find the jurisprudence of jurisprudence, the grammar of grammar, and the accidence of accidence.

آن سبوی آب دانشهای ماست ** و آن خلیفه دجله‌‌ی علم خداست‌‌

That jug of water is (an emblem of) our different sorts of knowledge, and the Caliph is the Tigris of God's knowledge.

ما سبوها پر به دجله می‌‌بریم ** گر نه خر دانیم خود را ما خریم‌‌

We are carrying jugs full (of water) to the Tigris: if we do not know ourselves to be asses, asses we are.

باری اعرابی بدان معذور بود ** کو ز دجله بی‌‌خبر بود و ز رود 2850

After all, the Bedouin was excusable, for he was inattentive and very blind to the Tigris and of the (great) river.

گر ز دجله با خبر بودی چو ما ** او نبردی آن سبو را جا به جا

If he had been acquainted with the Tigris, as we are, he would not have carried that jug from place to place;

بلکه از دجله چو واقف آمدی ** آن سبو را بر سر سنگی زدی‌‌

Nay, had he been aware of the Tigris, he would have dashed that jug against a stone.

قبول کردن خلیفه هدیه را و عطا فرمودن با کمال بی‌‌نیازی از آن هدیه و از آن سبو

How the Caliph accepted the gift and bestowed largesse, notwithstanding that he was entirely without need of the gift (the water) and the jug.

چون خلیفه دید و احوالش شنید ** آن سبو را پر ز زر کرد و مزید

When the Caliph saw (the gift) and heard his story, he filled the jug with gold and added (other presents).