یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل

He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.

اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود

The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.

این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای 1995

That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.

از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی

On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.

هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار

(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.

صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر

Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.

گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی

If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.

استخوانت را بخاید چون شکر ** که نبینی زندگانی را دگر 2000

He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again.

آن مگیر آخر بمانی از علف ** آتش از بی‌هیزمی گردد تلف

(Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.

هین بمگریز از تصرف کردنم ** وز گرانی بار که جانت منم

Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”