از ره خشک آمده ست و از سفر ** از ره آبش بود نزدیکتر
He has come (hither) by way of the desert and by travelling (on land): it will be nearer for him (to return) by way of the Tigris.”
چون به کشتی درنشست و دجله دید ** سجده می‌‌کرد از حیا و می‌‌خمید
When he (the Arab) embarked in the boat and beheld the Tigris, he was prostrating himself in shame and bowing (his head),
کای عجب لطف این شه وهاب را ** وین عجبتر کو ستد آن آب را
Saying, “Oh, wonderful is the kindness of this bounteous King, and ’tis (even) more wonderful that he took that water.
چون پذیرفت از من آن دریای جود ** آن چنان نقد دغل را زود زود
How did that Sea of munificence so quickly accept from me such spurious coin as that?”
کل عالم را سبو دان ای پسر ** کاو بود از علم و خوبی تا به سر2860
Know, O son, that everything in the universe is a jug which is (filled) to the brim with wisdom and beauty.
قطره‌‌ای از دجله‌‌ی خوبی اوست ** کان نمی‌‌گنجد ز پری زیر پوست
It (everything in the universe) is a drop of the Tigris of His beauty, which (beauty) because of its fullness is not contained under the skin (that should enclose it).
گنج مخفی بد ز پری چاک کرد ** خاک را تابان تر از افلاک کرد
’Twas a hidden treasure: because of its fullness it burst forth and made the earth more shining than the heavens.
گنج مخفی بد ز پری جوش کرد ** خاک را سلطان اطلس پوش کرد
’Twas a hidden treasure: because of its fullness it surged up and made the earth (like) a sultan robed in satin.
ور بدیدی شاخی از دجله‌‌ی خدا ** آن سبو را او فنا کردی فنا
And if he (the Arab) had seen a branch of the Divine Tigris, he would have destroyed that jug, destroyed it.
آن که دیدندش همیشه بی‌‌خودند ** بی‌‌خودانه بر سبو سنگی زدند2865
They that saw it are always beside themselves: like one beside himself, they hurled a stone at the jug (of their self-existence).