ما بلغو و لهو فربه گشته‌ایم ** در نصیحت خویش را نسرشته‌ایم

We have waxed fat on frivolity and diversion: we have not steeped ourselves in admonition.

هست قوت ما دروغ و لاف و لاغ ** شورش معده‌ست ما را زین بلاغ

Our food is falsehood and idle boasts and jests: our stomachs are turned by your delivering this message.

رنج را صدتو و افزون می‌کنید ** عقل را دارو به افیون می‌کنید

Ye are making the illness hundredfold and more: ye are drugging the intelligence with opium.”

معالجه کردن برادر دباغ دباغ را به خفیه به بوی سرگین

How the tanner’s brother sought to cure him secretly with the smell of dung.

خلق را می‌راند از وی آن جوان ** تا علاجش را نبینند آن کسان

The youth kept driving the people away from him (the tanner), in order that those persons might not see his treatment (of the sick man).

سر به گوشش برد هم‌چون رازگو ** پس نهاد آن چیز بر بینی او 290

He brought his head (close) to his ear, like one telling a secret; then he put the thing (which he had in his hand) to his (the tanner’s) nose;

کو به کف سرگین سگ ساییده بود ** داروی مغز پلید آن دیده بود

For he had rubbed the dog’s dung on his palm: he had deemed it (to be) the remedy for the polluted brain.

ساعتی شد مرد جنبیدن گرفت ** خلق گفتند این فسونی بد شگفت

A short while passed: the man began to move: the people said, “This was a wonderful charm;

کین بخواند افسون به گوش او دمید ** مرده بود افسون به فریادش رسید

For this (youth) recited charms and breathed (them) into his ear: he was dead: the charms came to succour him.”

جنبش اهل فساد آن سو بود ** که زنا و غمزه و ابرو بود

The movement of iniquitous folk is to the quarter in which there is fornication and ogling glances and eyebrows.

هر کرا مشک نصیحت سود نیست ** لا جرم با بوی بد خو کردنیست 295

Any one to whom the musk, admonition, is of no use must necessarily make himself familiar with the bad smell.