- Do not, like the vizier, make brigandage your stock-in-trade; do not turn the people away from the ritual prayer.
- چون وزیر از ره زنی مایه مساز ** خلق را تو بر میاور از نماز
- The miscreant vizier had become (in appearance) a true religious counsellor, (but) he had craftily put garlic in the walnut cake. 445
- ناصح دین گشته آن کافر وزیر ** کرده او از مکر در لوزینه سیر
- How the sagacious among the Christians perceived the guile of the vizier.
- فهم کردن حاذقان نصارا مکر وزیر را
- Whoever was possessed of (spiritual) discernment was feeling a sweet savour in his words and, joined therewith, bitterness.
- هر که صاحب ذوق بود از گفت او ** لذتی میدید و تلخی جفت او
- He (the vizier) was saying fine things mixed (with foul): he had poured some poison into the sugared julep.
- نکتهها میگفت او آمیخته ** در جلاب قند زهری ریخته
- The outward sense of it was saying, “Be diligent in the Way,” but in effect it was saying to the soul, “Be slack.”
- ظاهرش میگفت در ره چیست شو ** وز اثر میگفت جان را سست شو
- If the surface of silver is white and new, (yet) the hands and dress are blackened by it.
- ظاهر نقره گر اسپید است و نو ** دست و جامه می سیه گردد ازو
- Although fire is red-faced (bright and glorious) with sparks, look at the black behaviour (displayed) in its action. 450
- آتش ار چه سرخ روی است از شرر ** تو ز فعل او سیه کاری نگر
- If the lightning appears luminous to the eye, (yet) from its distinctive property it is the robber of sight (it strikes men blind).
- برق اگر نوری نماید در نظر ** لیک هست از خاصیت دزد بصر
- (As for) any (Christian) who was not wary and possessed of discernment, the words of him (the vizier) were (as) a collar on his neck.
- هر که جز آگاه و صاحب ذوق بود ** گفت او در گردن او طوق بود
- During six years, in separation from the king, the vizier became a refuge for the followers of Jesus.
- مدت شش سال در هجران شاه ** شد وزیر اتباع عیسی را پناه