What a distance between the approach and bargaining of a purchaser and the pleasantries of a silly joker?
چونک در ملکش نباشد حبه‌ای ** جز پی گنگل چه جوید جبه‌ای
Since there is not a mite in his possession, how should he seek (to buy) a coat except in jest?
در تجارت نیستش سرمایه‌ای ** پس چه شخص زشت او چه سایه‌ای
He has no capital for trading: what, then, is the difference between his ill-favoured person and a shadow?
مایه در بازار این دنیا زرست ** مایه آنجا عشق و دو چشم ترست
The capital (required) for the market of this world is gold; there (in the next world) the capital is love and two eyes wet (with tears).
هر که او بی‌مایه‌ی بازار رفت ** عمر رفت و بازگشت او خام تفت 840
Whoever went to market without any capital, his life passed and he speedily returned in disappointment.
هی کجا بودی برادر هیچ جا ** هی چه پختی بهر خوردن هیچ با
“Oh, where hast thou been, brother?” “Nowhere.” “Oh, what hast thou cooked to eat?” “No (good) soup.”
مشتری شو تا بجنبد دست من ** لعل زاید معدن آبست من
Become a buyer, that my hand may move (to sell to thee), and that my pregnant mine may bring forth the ruby.
مشتری گرچه که سست و باردست ** دعوت دین کن که دعوت واردست
Though the buyer is slack and lukewarm, (yet) call (him) to the (true) religion, for the (command to) call hath come down (from God).
باز پران کن حمام روح گیر ** در ره دعوت طریق نوح گیر
Let the falcon fly and catch the spiritual dove: in calling (to God) take the way of Noah.
خدمتی می‌کن برای کردگار ** با قبول و رد خلقانت چه کار 845
Perform an act of service for the Creator's sake: what hast thou to do with being accepted or rejected by the people?
داستان آن شخص کی بر در سرایی نیم‌شب سحوری می‌زد همسایه او را گفت کی آخر نیم‌شبست سحر نیست و دیگر آنک درین سرا کسی نیست بهر کی می‌زنی و جواب گفتن مطرب او را
Story of the person who was giving the drum-call for the sahúr at the gate of a certain palace at midnight. A neighbour said to him, “Why, it is midnight, it is not (yet) dawn; and besides, there is no one in this palace: for whose sake are you drumming?”—and the minstrel's reply to him.