اسپ یاغی چون ببیند اسپ ما ** رو بگرداند گریزد بی عصا
When the enemy’s horse sees our horse, it turns its face and flees without flogging’.
تاکنون معبود و مسجود جهان ** بوده‌ای گردی کمینه‌ی بندگان2730
Hitherto thou hast been worshipped and adored by the (whole) world: (now) thou wilt become the meanest of slaves.
در هزار آتش شدن زین خوشترست ** که خداوندی شود بنده‌پرست
To go into a thousand fires is better than this, that a lord should become the servant of a slave.
نه بکش اول مرا ای شاه چین ** تا نبیند چشم من بر شاه این
Nay, kill me first, O king of China, that mine eye may not be hold this (servility) in the king.
خسروا اول مرا گردن بزن ** تا نبیند این مذلت چشم من
O emperor, behead me first, that mine eye may not behold this ignominy.
خود نبودست و مبادا این چنین ** که زمین گردون شود گردون زمین
Truly never has there been—and never may there be!—such a thing as this, that the earth should become the sky, and the sky become the earth;
بندگان‌مان خواجه‌تاش ما شوند ** بی‌دلان‌مان دلخراش ما شوند2735
(That) our slaves should become our fellow-servants, (and that) our timorous ones should become those who (cruelly) wound our hearts;
چشم‌روشن دشمنان و دوست کور ** گشت ما را پس گلستان قعر گور
(That our) enemies (should be) bright-eyed and (our) friends blind: then (in that case) the rose-garden has become for us (like) the bottom of the tomb.”
تزییف سخن هامان علیه‌اللعنه
Showing the falsity of Hámán’s speech— the curse (of God) be upon him!
دوست از دشمن همی نشناخت او ** نرد را کورانه کژ می‌باخت او
He did not know friend from enemy: he was playing back gammon (all) wrong, like a blind man.
دشمن تو جز تو نبود این لعین ** بی‌گناهان را مگو دشمن به کین
Thy enemy is none but thyself, O accursed one: do not despitefully call the innocent (thy) enemies.
پیش تو این حالت بد دولتست ** که دوادو اول و آخر لتست
In thy sight this evil state (in which thou art) is dawlat (worldly fortune), whereof the beginning is dawádaw (running to and fro) and the end lat (blows).
گر ازین دولت نتازی خز خزان ** این بهارت را همی آید خزان2740
If by degrees thou do not run away from this worldly fortune, autumn will come o’er this spring of thine.
مشرق و مغرب چو تو بس دیده‌اند ** که سر ایشان ز تن ببریده‌اند
East and West have seen many like thee, whose heads have been severed from their bodies.
مشرق و مغرب که نبود بر قرار ** چون کنند آخر کسی را پایدار
After all, how should East and West, which are not permanent, make any one enduring?
تو بدان فخر آوری کز ترس و بند ** چاپلوست گشت مردم روز چند
Thou takest pride in the fact that men, from fear and bondage, have become thy flatterers for a few days.
هر کرا مردم سجودی می‌کنند ** زهر اندر جان او می‌آکنند
When men bow in adoration to any one, they are (really) cramming poison into his soul.
چونک بر گردد ازو آن ساجدش ** داند او کان زهر بود و موبدش2745
When his adorer turns away from him, he knows that that (adoration) was poisonous and destructive to him.
ای خنک آن را که ذلت نفسه ** وای آنک از سرکشی شد چون که او
Oh, blest is he whose carnal soul was abased! Alas who became like a mountain from arrogance
این تکبر زهر قاتل دان که هست ** از می پر زهر شد آن گیج مست
Know that this pride is a killing poison: that fool toxicated by the poisonous wine.
چون می پر زهر نوشد مدبری ** از طرب یکدم بجنباند سری
When an unhappy wretch drinks the poisonous wine, his head in delight for one moment.
بعد یکدم زهر بر جانش فتد ** زهر در جانش کند داد و ستد
After one moment the poison falls on his spirit the poison exercises (complete) sway over his spirit.
گر نذاری زهری‌اش را اعتقاد ** کو چه زهر آمد نگر در قوم عاد2750
If you have not firm belief in its being poisonous (and do not know) what (a deadly) poison it is, look at the people of ‘Ád.
چونک شاهی دست یابد بر شهی ** بکشدش یا باز دارد در چهی
When one king gains the upper hand (prevails) over another. king, he kills him or confines him in a dungeon;
ور بیابد خسته‌ی افتاده را ** مرهمش سازد شه و بدهد عطا
But if he find a fallen wounded man, the king will make a plaster for him and bestow gifts on him.
گر نه زهرست آن تکبر پس چرا ** کشت شه را بی‌گناه و بی‌خطا
If that pride is not poison, then why did he kill the (vanquished) king without (his having committed any) crime or offence?