حزم آن باشد که گویی تخمه‌ام ** یا سقیمم خسته‌ی این دخمه‌ام

Prudence is this, that you say (to her), “I have indigestion” or “I am ill, I am a sick man in this charnel-house”;

یا سرم دردست درد سر ببر ** یا مرا خواندست آن خالو پسر

Or “My head aches: take away my headache,” or “the son of my maternal uncle has invited me”—

زانک یک نوشت دهد با نیشها ** که بکارد در تو نوشش ریشها

For she will give you one (draught of) honey (mixed) with (venomous) stings, so that her honey will plant in you (many) sores.

زر اگر پنجاه اگر شصتت دهد ** ماهیا او گوشت در شستت دهد 225

Whether she give you fifty or sixty (pieces of) gold, she gives you, O fish, (nothing but) flesh on a hook.

گر دهد خود کی دهد آن پر حیل ** جوز پوسیدست گفتار دغل

If she give, when does that deceitful one really give (aught)? The words of the swindler are (like) rotten walnuts.

ژغژغ آن عقل و مغزت را برد ** صد هزاران عقل را یک نشمرد

Their rattling robs you of understanding and brain and does not reckon myriads of understandings (even) as one.

یار تو خرجین تست و کیسه‌ات ** گر تو رامینی مجو جز ویسه‌ات

(In travelling) your bag and your purse are your friend, (do not care for anything else): if you are Rámín, seek none but your Wísa.

ویسه و معشوق تو هم ذات تست ** وین برونیها همه آفات تست

’Tis your essential self that is your Wísa and beloved, and all these external things are banes to you.

حزم آن باشد که چون دعوت کنند ** تو نگویی مست و خواهان منند 230

Prudence is this, that when they (worldlings) invite you, you should not say, “They are enamoured and fond of me.”

دعوت ایشان صفیر مرغ دان ** که کند صیاد در مکمن نهان

Know that their invitation is (like) the bird's whistle which the fowler gives (while) concealed in (his) place of ambush: