خویش را هم صوت مرغان خدا ** می‌‌شمرد آن بد صفیری چون صدا
He was reckoning himself a fellow-songster of the Birds of God, (whereas) that (which proceeded from him) was (only) a whistle resembling an echo.
لحن مرغان را اگر واصف شوی ** بر مراد مرغ کی واقف شوی
If you become an exponent (imitator) of the song of birds, how will you become acquainted with the (real) meaning of the bird?
گر بیاموزی صفیر بلبلی ** تو چه دانی کاو چه دارد با گلی
If you learn the note of a nightingale, how will you know what (feelings) it has towards a rose?
ور بدانی باشد آن هم از گمان ** چون ز لب جنبان گمانهای کران
Or if you do know, ’twill only be from surmise, like the conjectures formed by deaf people from those who move their lips.
به عیادت رفتن کر بر همسایه‌‌ی رنجور خویش
How the deaf man went to visit his sick neighbour.
آن کری را گفت افزون مایه‌‌ای ** که ترا رنجور شد همسایه‌‌ای3360
One possessed of much wealth said to a deaf man, “A neighbour of thine is fallen ill.”
گفت با خود کر که با گوش گران ** من چه دریابم ز گفت آن جوان
The deaf man said to himself, “Being hard of hearing, what shall I understand of the words spoken by that youth?—
خاصه رنجور و ضعیف آواز شد ** لیک باید رفت آن جا نیست بد
Especially (as) he is ill and his voice is weak; but I must go thither, there's no escape.
چون ببینم کان لبش جنبان شود ** من قیاسی گیرم آن را هم ز خود
When I see his lips moving, I will form a conjecture as to that (movement) from myself.
چون بگویم چونی ای محنت کشم ** او بخواهد گفت نیکم یا خوشم
When I say, ‘How are you, O my suffering (friend)?’ he will reply, ‘I am fine’ or ‘I am pretty well.’
من بگویم شکر چه خوردی ابا ** او بگوید شربتی یا ماشبا3365
I will say, ‘Thanks (to God)! What posset have you had to drink?’ He will reply, ‘Some sherbet’ or ‘a decoction of kidney-beans.’
من بگویم صحه نوشت کیست آن ** از طبیبان پیش تو گوید فلان
(Then) I will say, ‘May you enjoy health! Who is the doctor attending you?’ He will answer, ‘So-and-so.’
من بگویم بس مبارک پاست او ** چون که او آمد شود کارت نکو
‘He is one who brings great luck with him,’ I will remark; ‘since he has come, things will go well for you.
پای او را آزمودستیم ما ** هر کجا شد می‌‌شود حاجت روا
I have experienced (the luck of) his foot: wherever he goes, the desired object is attained.’”
این جوابات قیاسی راست کرد ** پیش آن رنجور شد آن نیک مرد
The good man made ready these conjectural answers, and went to see the invalid.
گفت چونی گفت مردم گفت شکر ** شد از این رنجور پر آزار و نکر3370
“How are you?” he asked. “I am at the point of death,” said he. “Thanks (to God)!” cried the deaf man. At this, the patient became resentful and indignant,
کین چه شکر است او مگر با ما بد است ** کر قیاسی کرد و آن کژ آمده ست
Saying (to himself), “What (cause for) thanksgiving is this? Surely he has always been ill-disposed towards me.”—The deaf man made a conjecture, and (as now appears) it has turned out to be wrong.
بعد از آن گفتش چه خوردی گفت زهر ** گفت نوشت باد افزون گشت قهر
After that, he asked him what he had drunk. “Poison,” said he. “May it do you good!” said the deaf man. His (the invalid's) wrath increased.
بعد از آن گفت از طبیبان کیست او ** کاو همی‌‌آید به چاره پیش تو
Then he inquired, “Which of the doctors is it that is coming to attend you?”