فهم و خاطر تیز کردن نیست راه ** جز شکسته می‌‌نگیرد فضل شاه
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way: none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
ای بسا گنج آگنان کنج کاو ** کان خیال اندیش را شد ریش گاو
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure), who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
گاو که بود تا تو ریش او شوی ** خاک چه بود تا حشیش او شوی
Who is the ox that you should become his beard? What is earth that you should become its stubble?
چون زنی از کار بد شد روی زرد ** مسخ کرد او را خدا و زهره کرد535
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness, God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).
عورتی را زهره کردن مسخ بود ** خاک و گل گشتن نه مسخ است ای عنود
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: is it not metamorphosis to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
روح می‌‌بردت سوی چرخ برین ** سوی آب و گل شدی در اسفلین
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven): you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest (of the low).
خویشتن را مسخ کردی زین سفول ** ز آن وجودی که بد آن رشک عقول
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of) existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
پس ببین کین مسخ کردن چون بود ** پیش آن مسخ این به غایت دون بود
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis: compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
اسب همت سوی اختر تاختی ** آدم مسجود را نشناختی540
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars: you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).
آخر آدم زاده‌‌ای ای ناخلف ** چند پنداری تو پستی را شرف
After all, you are a son of Adam. O degenerate! how long will you regard lowness as nobility?