تا بماند آن معانی در جهان ** چون شود آن قالب ایشان نهان

To the end that these inward meanings may remain in the world when that body of theirs becomes hidden.

حق به حکمت حرصشان دادست جد ** بهر رشد هر صغیر مستعد

God in His wisdom has given them intense desire for the right guidance of every little one capable (of learning).

من هم از بهر دوام نسل خویش ** جفت خواهم پور خود را خوب کیش 3120

I too, for the purpose of (ensuring) the continuance of my race, will seek for my son a wife of good principles.

دختری خواهم ز نسل صالحی ** نی ز نسل پادشاهی کالحی

I will seek a girl who is the offspring of a righteous man, not the offspring of a stern-visaged king.”

شاه خود این صالحست آزاد اوست ** نی اسیر حرص فرجست و گلوست

This righteous man is himself a king, he is free, he is not the prisoner of lust and gluttony.

مر اسیران را لقب کردند شاه ** عکس چون کافور نام آن سیاه

They (the people) have given (those) prisoners the title of “king” by inversion, just as Káfúr (Camphor) is the name of that negro.

شد مفازه بادیه‌ی خون‌خوار نام ** نیکبخت آن پیس را کردند عام

The blood-drinking (deadly) wilderness is named mafáza (place of safety); the vulgar call the leper Níkbakht (Fortunatus).

بر اسیر شهوت و حرص و امل ** بر نوشته میر یا صدر اجل 3125

They have described the prisoner of lust and anger and ambition by the name of Mír or Sadr-i ajall (most honourable prince).

آن اسیران اجل را عام داد ** نام امیران اجل اندر بلاد

To those prisoners of Doom (asírán-i ajal) the vulgar in (all) the lands have given the title of “most honourable Amírs” (amírán-i ajall).

صدر خوانندش که در صف نعال ** جان او پستست یعنی جاه و مال

They call high-placed (Sadr) him whose soul is (placed) low in the vestibule, that is to say, (worldly) power and riches.