- If you become an exponent (imitator) of the song of birds, how will you become acquainted with the (real) meaning of the bird?
- لحن مرغان را اگر واصف شوی ** بر مراد مرغ کی واقف شوی
- If you learn the note of a nightingale, how will you know what (feelings) it has towards a rose?
- گر بیاموزی صفیر بلبلی ** تو چه دانی کاو چه دارد با گلی
- Or if you do know, ’twill only be from surmise, like the conjectures formed by deaf people from those who move their lips.
- ور بدانی باشد آن هم از گمان ** چون ز لب جنبان گمانهای کران
- How the deaf man went to visit his sick neighbour.
- به عیادت رفتن کر بر همسایهی رنجور خویش
- One possessed of much wealth said to a deaf man, “A neighbour of thine is fallen ill.” 3360
- آن کری را گفت افزون مایهای ** که ترا رنجور شد همسایهای
- The deaf man said to himself, “Being hard of hearing, what shall I understand of the words spoken by that youth?—
- گفت با خود کر که با گوش گران ** من چه دریابم ز گفت آن جوان
- Especially (as) he is ill and his voice is weak; but I must go thither, there's no escape.
- خاصه رنجور و ضعیف آواز شد ** لیک باید رفت آن جا نیست بد
- When I see his lips moving, I will form a conjecture as to that (movement) from myself.
- چون ببینم کان لبش جنبان شود ** من قیاسی گیرم آن را هم ز خود
- When I say, ‘How are you, O my suffering (friend)?’ he will reply, ‘I am fine’ or ‘I am pretty well.’
- چون بگویم چونی ای محنت کشم ** او بخواهد گفت نیکم یا خوشم
- I will say, ‘Thanks (to God)! What posset have you had to drink?’ He will reply, ‘Some sherbet’ or ‘a decoction of kidney-beans.’ 3365
- من بگویم شکر چه خوردی ابا ** او بگوید شربتی یا ماشبا
- (Then) I will say, ‘May you enjoy health! Who is the doctor attending you?’ He will answer, ‘So-and-so.’
- من بگویم صحه نوشت کیست آن ** از طبیبان پیش تو گوید فلان