- If in the world thou art the most learned scholar of the time, behold the passing away of this world and this time! 2845
- گر تو علامهی زمانی در جهان ** نک فنای این جهان بین وین زمان
- We have stitched in (inserted) the (story of the) grammarian, that we might teach you the grammar (nahw) of self-effacement (mahw).
- مرد نحوی را از آن در دوختیم ** تا شما را نحو محو آموختیم
- In self-loss, O venerated friend, thou wilt find the jurisprudence of jurisprudence, the grammar of grammar, and the accidence of accidence.
- فقه فقه و نحو نحو و صرف صرف ** در کم آمد یابی ای یار شگرف
- That jug of water is (an emblem of) our different sorts of knowledge, and the Caliph is the Tigris of God's knowledge.
- آن سبوی آب دانشهای ماست ** و آن خلیفه دجلهی علم خداست
- We are carrying jugs full (of water) to the Tigris: if we do not know ourselves to be asses, asses we are.
- ما سبوها پر به دجله میبریم ** گر نه خر دانیم خود را ما خریم
- After all, the Bedouin was excusable, for he was inattentive and very blind to the Tigris and of the (great) river. 2850
- باری اعرابی بدان معذور بود ** کو ز دجله بیخبر بود و ز رود
- If he had been acquainted with the Tigris, as we are, he would not have carried that jug from place to place;
- گر ز دجله با خبر بودی چو ما ** او نبردی آن سبو را جا به جا
- Nay, had he been aware of the Tigris, he would have dashed that jug against a stone.
- بلکه از دجله چو واقف آمدی ** آن سبو را بر سر سنگی زدی
- How the Caliph accepted the gift and bestowed largesse, notwithstanding that he was entirely without need of the gift (the water) and the jug.
- قبول کردن خلیفه هدیه را و عطا فرمودن با کمال بینیازی از آن هدیه و از آن سبو
- When the Caliph saw (the gift) and heard his story, he filled the jug with gold and added (other presents).
- چون خلیفه دید و احوالش شنید ** آن سبو را پر ز زر کرد و مزید
- He delivered the Arab from penury, he bestowed donations and special robes of honour,
- آن عرب را کرد از فاقه خلاص ** داد بخششها و خلعتهای خاص