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آن سبوی آب را در پیش داشت ** تخم خدمت را در آن حضرت بکاشت 2815
- He presented the jug of water, he sowed the seed of homage in that (exalted) court.
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گفت این هدیه بدان سلطان برید ** سایل شه را ز حاجت واخرید
- “Bear this gift,” said he, “to the Sultan, redeem the King's suitor from indigence.
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آب شیرین و سبوی سبز و نو ** ز آب بارانی که جمع آمد به گو
- ’Tis sweet water and a new green jug—some of the rain-water that collected in the ditch.”
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خنده میآمد نقیبان را از آن ** لیک پذرفتند آن را همچو جان
- The officials smiled at that, but they accepted it (the jug) as (though it were precious as) life,
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ز آن که لطف شاه خوب با خبر ** کرده بود اندر همه ارکان اثر
- Because the graciousness of the good and wise King had made a mark (impressed itself) on all the courtiers.
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خوی شاهان در رعیت جا کند ** چرخ اخضر خاک را خضرا کند 2820
- The disposition of kings settles (becomes implanted) in their subjects: the green sky makes the earth verdant.
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شه چو حوضی دان حشم چون لولهها ** آب از لوله روان در کولهها
- Regard the king as a reservoir, his retainers as the pipes: the water runs through the pipe into the ponds (receptacles).
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چون که آب جمله از حوضی است پاک ** هر یکی آبی دهد خوش ذوقناک
- When the water in all (the pipes) is from a pure reservoir, every single one gives sweet water, pleasant to taste;
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ور در آن حوض آب شور است و پلید ** هر یکی لوله همان آرد پدید
- But if the water in the reservoir is brackish and dirty, every pipe brings the same to view,
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ز آن که پیوسته ست هر لوله به حوض ** خوض کن در معنی این حرف خوض
- Because every pipe is connected with the reservoir. Dive, dive into (ponder deeply) the meaning of these words.
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لطف شاهنشاه جان بیوطن ** چون اثر کرده ست اندر کل تن 2825
- (Consider) how the imperial grace of the homeless Spirit has produced effects on the whole body;
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لطف عقل خوش نهاد خوش نسب ** چون همه تن را در آرد در ادب
- How the grace of Reason, which is of goodly nature, of goodly lineage, brings the entire body into discipline;
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عشق شنگ بیقرار بیسکون ** چون در آرد کل تن را در جنون
- How Love, saucy, uncontrolled, and restless, throws the whole body into madness.
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لطف آب بحر کاو چون کوثر است ** سنگ ریزهش جمله در و گوهر است
- The purity of the water of the Sea that is like Kawthar (is such that) all its pebbles are pearls and gems.
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هر هنر که استا بدان معروف شد ** جان شاگردان بدان موصوف شد
- For whatever science the master is renowned, the souls of his pupils become endued with the same.
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پیش استاد اصولی هم اصول ** خواند آن شاگرد چست با حصول 2830
- With the master-theologian the quick and industrious pupil reads (scholastic) theology.
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پیش استاد فقیه آن فقه خوان ** فقه خواند نی اصول اندر بیان
- With the master-jurist the student of jurisprudence reads jurisprudence, when he (the teacher) expounds it, not theology.
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پیش استادی که او نحوی بود ** جان شاگردش از او نحوی شود
- With the master who is a grammarian—the soul of his pupil becomes imbued by him with grammar.
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باز استادی که او محو ره است ** جان شاگردش از او محو شه است
- Again, the master who is absorbed in the Way (of Súfism)— because of him the soul of his pupil is absorbed in the King (God).
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زین همه انواع دانش روز مرگ ** دانش فقر است ساز راه و برگ
- Of all these various kinds of knowledge, on the day of death the (best) equipment and provision for the road is the knowledge of (spiritual) poverty.
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حکایت ماجرای نحوی و کشتیبان
- The story of what passed between the grammarian and the boatman.
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آن یکی نحوی به کشتی درنشست ** رو به کشتیبان نهاد آن خود پرست 2835
- A certain grammarian embarked in a boat. That self-conceited person turned to the boatman
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گفت هیچ از نحو خواندی گفت لا ** گفت نیم عمر تو شد در فنا
- And said, “Have you ever studied grammar?” “No,” he replied. The other said, “Half your life is gone to naught.”
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دل شکسته گشت کشتیبان ز تاب ** لیک آن دم کرد خامش از جواب
- The boatman became heart-broken with grief, but at the time he refrained from answering.
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باد کشتی را به گردابی فگند ** گفت کشتیبان به آن نحوی بلند
- The wind cast the boat into a whirlpool: the boatman spoke loud (shouted) to the grammarian,
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هیچ دانی آشنا کردن بگو ** گفت نی ای خوش جواب خوب رو
- “Tell me, do you know how to swim?” “No,” said he, “O fair-spoken good-looking man!”