-
نیستی و نقص هر جایی که خاست ** آینهی خوبی جملهی پیشههاست
- Not-being and defect, wherever they arise (appear), are the mirror which displays the excellence of all crafts.
-
چون که جامه چست و دوزیده بود ** مظهر فرهنگ درزی چون شود 3205
- When a garment is neat and well-stitched, how should it enable the tailor to exhibit his skill?
-
ناتراشیده همیباید جذوع ** تا دروگر اصل سازد یا فروع
- Trunks of trees must be unhewn in order that the woodcutter may fashion the stem or the branches (and thus exercise his craft).
-
خواجهی اشکسته بند آن جا رود ** که در آن جا پای اشکسته بود
- The doctor who sets broken bones goes to the place where the person with the fractured leg is.
-
کی شود چون نیست رنجور نزار ** آن جمال صنعت طب آشکار
- How shall the excellence of the art of medicine be made manifest when there is no emaciated invalid?
-
خواری و دونی مسها بر ملا ** گر نباشد کی نماید کیمیا
- How shall the (power of the) Elixir be shown if the vileness and baseness of coppers is not notorious?
-
نقصها آیینهی وصف کمال ** و آن حقارت آینهی عز و جلال 3210
- Defects are the mirror of the quality of perfection, and that vileness is the mirror of power and glory,
-
ز آن که ضد را ضد کند پیدا یقین ** ز آن که با سرکه پدید است انگبین
- Because (every) contrary is certainly made evident by its contrary; because honey is perceived (to be sweet by contrast) with vinegar.
-
هر که نقص خویش را دید و شناخت ** اندر استکمال خود ده اسبه تاخت
- Whoever has seen and recognised his own deficiency has galloped with ten horses (made rapid progress) in perfecting himself.
-
ز آن نمیپرد به سوی ذو الجلال ** کاو گمانی میبرد خود را کمال
- The reason why he (any one) is not flying towards the Lord of glory is that he supposes himself to be perfect.