قصه‌ی اهل سبا یک گوشه نه ** آن بگو کان خواجه چون آمد به ده
Put aside the story of the people of Saba: tell how the Khwaja came to the village.
روستایی در تملق شیوه کرد ** تا که حزم خواجه را کالیوه کرد
The countryman used blandishments in ingratiating himself, until he made the Khwaja’s prudence crazy.
از پیام اندر پیام او خیره شد ** تا زلال حزم خواجه تیره شد415
He ( the Khwaja) was distracted by message upon message, till the clear water of his prudence became turbid.
هم ازینجا کودکانش در پسند ** نرتع و نلعب بشادی می‌زدند
On the same side his children in approval (of the country-man’s invitation) were joyously striking up “Let us frolic and play,”
همچو یوسف کش ز تقدیر عجب ** نرتع و نلعب ببرد از ظل آب
Like Joseph, whom by the wondrous (act of Divine) predestination (the words). “Let us frolic and play” carried off from his father’s shadow (protection).
آن نه بازی بلک جانبازیست آن ** حیله و مکر و دغاسازیست آن
That is not (joyful) play; nay, ‘tis play with one’s life, ‘tis cunning and deceit and contrivance of fraud.
هرچه از یارت جدا اندازد آن ** مشنو آن را کان زیان دارد زیان
Whatsoever would fling you asunder from the Friend, do not listen to it, for it holds loss, loss.
گر بود آن سود صد در صد مگیر ** بهر زر مگسل ز گنجور ای فقیر420
(Even) if the gain be a hundred hundredfold, do not accept it: do not, for the sake of the gold, break with the dervish (who is) the treasurer (of the Divine bounty)!
این شنو که چند یزدان زجر کرد ** گفت اصحاب نبی را گرم و سرد
Hear how many a rebuke, hot and cold (kindly and severe), God addressed to the Companions of the Prophet,
زانک بر بانگ دهل در سال تنگ ** جمعه را کردند باطل بی درنگ
Because, in a year of distress (famine), at the sound of the drum they (quitted) without tarrying (and) made void the Friday congregation,