نفع و ضر هر یکی از موضعست ** علم ازین رو واجبست و نافعست
The usefulness and harm of each depend on the place (occasion): for this reason knowledge is necessary and useful.
ای بسا زجری که بر مسکین رود ** در ثواب از نان و حلوا به بود 2600
Oh, many a punishment inflicted on a poor fellow is more meritorious than (a gift of) bread and sweetmeat,
زانک حلوا بیاوان صفرا کند ** سیلیش از خبث مستنقا کند
For sweetmeat (when eaten) unseasonably causes yellow bile, (whereas) slaps purge him of wickedness.
سیلیی در وقت بر مسکین بزن ** که رهاند آنش از گردن زدن
Give the poor fellow a slap in season: it will save him from beheading (afterwards).
زخم در معنی فتد از خوی بد ** چوب بر گرد اوفتد نه بر نمد
The blow is really inflicted because of (his) evil disposition: the stick falls on the dust (in the garment of felt), not on the felt (itself).
بزم و زندن هست هر بهرام را ** بزم مخلص را و زندان خام را
Every Bahrám (emperor) has a banquet(-hall) and a prison: the banquet is for the sincere (friend) and the prison for the half-baked (churl).
شق باید ریش را مرهم کنی ** چرک را در ریش مستحکم کنی 2605
(If) a sore wants lancing and you apply a poultice to it, you will (only) establish the pus in the sore,
تا خورد مر گوشت را در زیر آن ** نیم سودی باشد و پنجه زیان
So that it will eat away the flesh underneath: (the result) will be a half (a mere fraction) of profit and fifty losses.”
گفت دلقک من نمیگویم گذار ** من همیگویم تحریی بیار
Dalqak said, “I am not saying, ‘Let (my offence) pass’; I am saying, ‘Take some care to investigate.’
هین ره صبر و تانی در مبند ** صبر کن اندیشه میکن روز چند
Hark, do not bar the road of patience and deliberation: be patient, reflect for a few days.
در تانی بر یقینی بر زنی ** گوشمال من بایقانی کنی
In (the course of) deliberation thou wilt hit upon a certainty, (and then) thou wilt chastise me with a sure conviction (of knowing the truth).”
در روش یمشی مکبا خود چرا ** چون همیشاید شدن در استوا 2610
Why, indeed, (be one who) walks falling (on his face) in wayfaring, when it behoves him to walk in an upright posture?
مشورت کن با گروه صالحان ** بر پیمبر امر شاورهم بدان
Take counsel with the company of the righteous: note the (Divine) command (given) to the Prophet, “Consult them.”
امرهم شوری برای این بود ** کز تشاور سهو و کژ کمتر رود
(The words) their affair is (a matter for) consultation are to this (the same) purpose, for owing to consultation mistakes and errors occur less (frequently).
این خردها چون مصابیح انورست ** بیست مصباح از یک روشنترست
These (human) intellects are luminous like lamps: twenty lamps are brighter than one.
بوک مصباحی فتد اندر میان ** مشتعل گشته ز نور آسمان
There may happen to be amongst them a lamp that has become aflame with the light of Heaven,
غیرت حق پردهای انگیختست ** سفلی و علوی به هم آمیختست 2615
(For) the jealousy of God has produced a veil (of concealment) and has mingled the low and the lofty together.
گفت سیروا میطلب اندر جهان ** بخت و روزی را همیکن امتحان
He hath said, “Travel”: always be seeking in the world and trying your fortune and (destined) lot.
در مجالس میطلب اندر عقول ** آن چنان عقلی که بود اندر رسول
In (all) assembly-places always be seeking amidst the intellects such an intellect as is (found) in the Prophet,
زانک میراث از رسول آنست و بس ** که ببیند غیبها از پیش و پس
For the only heritage from the Prophet is that (intellect) which perceives the unseen things before and behind (future and past).
در بصرها میطلب هم آن بصر ** که نتابد شرح آن این مختصر
Amidst the (inward) eyes, too, always be seeking that (inward) eye which this epitome has not the power to describe.
بهر این کردست منع آن با شکوه ** از ترهب وز شدن خلوت به کوه 2620
Hence the majestic (Prophet) has forbidden monkery and going to live as a hermit in the mountains,
تا نگردد فوت این نوع التقا ** کان نظر بختست و اکسیر بقا
In order that this kind of meeting (with saints) should not be lost; for to be looked on by them is fortune and an elixir of immortality.
در میان صالحان یک اصلحیست ** بر سر توقیعش از سلطان صحیست
Amongst the righteous there is one (who is) the most righteous: on his diploma (is inscribed) by the Sultan's hand a sahh,
کان دعا شد با اجابت مقترن ** کفو او نبود کبار انس و جن
(Indicating) that the prayer (uttered by him) is (inseparably) linked with acceptance, (and that) the greatest of men and Jinn are not his peers.