- Foxes are afraid of the noise of the drum; (but) the wise man beats it ever so much, saying, “Speak not!”
- روبهان ترسند ز آواز دهل ** عاقلش چندان زند که لا تقل
- The story of an archer and his fear of a horseman who was riding in a forest.
- قصهی تیر اندازی و ترسیدن او از سواری که در بیشه میرفت
- A horseman, armed and very terrible (in appearance), was riding in the forest on a high-bred horse.
- یک سواری با سلاح و بس مهیب ** میشد اندر بیشه بر اسبی نجیب
- An expert archer espied him, and then from fear of him drew his bow,
- تیر اندازی به حکم او را بدید ** پس ز خوف او کمان را در کشید
- To shoot an arrow. The horseman shouted to him, “I am a weakling, though my body is big. 3165
- تا زند تیری سوارش بانگ زد ** من ضعیفم گر چه زفت استم جسد
- Take heed! Take heed! Do not regard my bigness, for in the hour of battle I am less than an old woman.”
- هان و هان منگر تو در زفتی من ** که کمم در وقت جنگ از پیر زن
- “Pass on,” said he; “thou hast spoken well, else by reason of my fear I should have shot a barb at thee.”
- گفت رو که نیک گفتی ور نه نیش ** بر تو میانداختم از ترس خویش
- Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).
- بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بیرجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت
- If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.
- گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن
- Make your soul a shield and drop the sword, O son: whoever is headless (selfless) saves his head from this King. 3170
- جان سپر کن تیغ بگذار ای پسر ** هر که بیسر بود از این شه برد سر
- Those weapons of yours are your (selfish) contriving and plotting; they have sprung from you and at the same time have wounded your soul.
- آن سلاحت حیله و مکر تو است ** هم ز تو زایید و هم جان تو خست