ز آن که اول سمع باید نطق را ** سوی منطق از ره سمع اندر آ

Since, in order to speak, one must first hear, do thou come to speech by the way of hearing.

ادخلوا الأبیات من أبوابها ** و اطلبوا الأغراض فی أسبابها

And enter ye the houses by their doors, and seek ye the ends in their causes.

نطق کان موقوف راه سمع نیست ** جز که نطق خالق بی‌‌طمع نیست‌‌

There is no speech independent of the way of hearing except the speech of the Creator who is without want.

مبدع است او تابع استاد نی ** مسند جمله و را اسناد نی‌‌ 1630

He is the Originator, He follows no master; He is the support of all things, He hath no support,

باقیان هم در حرف هم در مقال ** تابع استاد و محتاج مثال‌‌

(While) the rest, (engaged) in handicrafts and talk, follow a master and have need of a pattern.

زین سخن گر نیستی بیگانه‌‌ای ** دلق و اشکی گیر در ویرانه‌‌ای‌‌

If thou art not alien to (unfit to hear) this discourse, assume the frock of a dervish and (take to shedding) tears in some deserted place,

ز آن که آدم ز آن عتاب از اشک رست ** اشک تر باشد دم توبه پرست‌‌

Because Adam by means of tears escaped from that reproof: moist tears are the breath (speech) of the penitent.

بهر گریه آمد آدم بر زمین ** تا بود گریان و نالان و حزین‌‌

For weeping's sake Adam came (down) to the earth, that he might be weeping and moaning and sorrowful.

آدم از فردوس و از بالای هفت ** پای ماچان از برای عذر رفت‌‌ 1635

Adam, (cast out) from Paradise and from above the Seven (Heavens), went to the “shoe-row” for the purpose of excusing himself.

گر ز پشت آدمی وز صلب او ** در طلب می‌‌باش هم در طلب او

If thou art from the back of Adam and from his loins, be constant in seeking (forgiveness) amongst his company.

ز آتش دل و آب دیده نقل ساز ** بوستان از ابر و خورشید است باز

Prepare a dessert of heart-fire (burning grief) and eye-water (tears): the garden is made open (blooming) by cloud and sun.

تو چه دانی قدر آب دیده‌‌گان ** عاشق نانی تو چون نادیدگان‌‌

What dost thou know of the taste of the water of the eyes? Thou art a lover of bread, like the blind (beggars).

گر تو این انبان ز نان خالی کنی ** پر ز گوهرهای اجلالی کنی‌‌

If thou make this wallet empty of bread, thou wilt make it full of glorious jewels.

طفل جان از شیر شیطان باز کن ** بعد از آنش با ملک انباز کن‌‌ 1640

Wean the babe, thy soul, from the Devil's milk, and after that make it consort with the Angel.

تا تو تاریک و ملول و تیره‌‌ای ** دان که با دیو لعین همشیره‌‌ای‌‌

Whilst thou art dark and vexed and gloomy, know that thou art sucking from the same breast as the accursed Devil.

لقمه‌‌ای کان نور افزود و کمال ** آن بود آورده از کسب حلال‌‌

The mouthful that gave increase of light and perfection is obtained from lawful earnings.

روغنی کاید چراغ ما کشد ** آب خوانش چون چراغی را کشد

The oil that comes and quenches our lamp—when it quenches a lamp, call it water.

علم و حکمت زاید از لقمه‌‌ی حلال ** عشق و رقت آید از لقمه‌‌ی حلال‌‌

From the lawful morsel are born knowledge and wisdom; from the lawful morsel come love and tenderness.

چون ز لقمه تو حسد بینی و دام ** جهل و غفلت زاید آن را دان حرام‌‌ 1645

When from a morsel thou seest (arise) envy and guile, (and when) ignorance and heedlessness are born (of it), know that it is unlawful.

هیچ گندم کاری و جو بر دهد ** دیده‌‌ای اسبی که کره‌‌ی خر دهد

Wilt thou sow wheat and will it produce barley? Hast thou seen a mare bring forth an ass's colt?

لقمه تخم است و برش اندیشه‌‌ها ** لقمه بحر و گوهرش اندیشه‌‌ها

The morsel is seed, and thoughts are its fruit; the morsel is the sea, and thoughts are its pearls.

زاید از لقمه‌‌ی حلال اندر دهان ** میل خدمت عزم رفتن آن جهان‌‌

From the lawful morsel in the mouth is born the inclination to serve (God) and the resolve to go to yonder world.

باز گفتن بازرگان با طوطی آن چه دید از طوطیان هندوستان‌‌

How the merchant related to the parrot what he had witnessed on the part of the parrots of India.

کرد بازرگان تجارت را تمام ** باز آمد سوی منزل دوست کام‌‌

The merchant finished his trading and returned home (prosperously) to the joy of his friends.

هر غلامی را بیاورد ارمغان ** هر کنیزک را ببخشید او نشان‌‌ 1650

He brought a present for every male slave, he gave a token to every slave-girl.

گفت طوطی ارمغان بنده کو ** آن چه دیدی و آن چه گفتی باز گو

“Where is my present?” asked the parrot. “Relate what thou hast seen and said.”