ژیغ‌ژیغ تلخ آن درهای مرگ ** نشنود گوش حریص از حرص برگ

(But) from greed for (worldly) provision the ear of the covetous does not hear the harsh creaking of those doors of death.

از سوی تن دردها بانگ درست ** وز سوی خصمان جفا بانگ درست 3105

From the side of the body, pains are the noise of the door; and from the side of enemies, maltreatment is the noise of the door.

جان سر بر خوان دمی فهرست طب ** نار علتها نظر کن ملتهب

My dear friend, read for one moment the table of contents of (books on) Medicine; look at the flaming fire of diseases!

زان همه غرها درین خانه رهست ** هر دو گامی پر ز کزدمها چهست

Through all those tumours (maladies) there is a way (for death) into this house: at every two steps there is a pit full of scorpions.

باد تندست و چراغم ابتری ** زو بگیرانم چراغ دیگری

(The king said), “The wind is fierce and my lamp is a docked (imperfect) one: I will light another lamp from it,

تا بود کز هر دو یک وافی شود ** گر به باد آن یک چراغ از جا رود

So that maybe one complete (lamp) will arise from them both, if that one lamp be put out by the wind,”

هم‌چو عارف کن تن ناقص چراغ ** شمع دل افروخت از بهر فراغ 3110

Like the gnostic who, for the sake of (gaining) freedom from care, has lit the candle of the heart (spirit) from this defective lamp of the body,

تا که روزی کین بمیرد ناگهان ** پیش چشم خود نهد او شمع جان

In order that, one day when this (bodily lamp) dies of a sudden, he may place before his eye the candle of the spirit.

او نکرد این فهم پس داد از غرر ** شمع فانی را بفانیی دگر

He (the king) did not understand this; therefore in his heedlessness he applied the perishing candle to another perishable.

عروس آوردن پادشاه فرزند خود را از خوف انقطاع نسل

How the king brought his son a bride for fear of his race coming to an end.

پس عروسی خواست باید بهر او ** تا نماید زین تزوج نسل رو

(The king said to himself), “It is necessary, then, to seek a bride for him, that from this marriage offspring may appear,