O brother, the story is like a measure: the real meaning in it resembles grain (in the measure).
ای برادر قصه چون پیمانهای است ** معنی اندر وی مثال دانهای است
The man of intelligence will take the grain of meaning: he will not pay any regard to the measure, (even) if it is removed (altogether).
دانهی معنی بگیرد مرد عقل ** ننگرد پیمانه را گر گشت نقل
Listen to what passes between the rose and the nightingale, though in that case there is no overt speech.
ماجرای بلبل و گل گوش دار ** گر چه گفتی نیست آن جا آشکار
On mute eloquence and the understanding of it.
سخن گفتن به زبان حال و فهم کردن آن
Listen to what passes between the moth and the candle, and pick out the meaning from the tale.3625
ماجرای شمع با پروانه نیز ** بشنو و معنی گزین کن ای عزیز
Albeit there is no speech, there is the inmost soul of speech. Come, fly aloft, do not fly low, like the owl.
گر چه گفتی نیست سر گفت هست ** هین ببالا پر مپر چون جغد پست
He (the player) at chess said, “This is the house of the rook.” “By what way,” said he (the literalist), “did the house come into its hands?
گفت در شطرنج کاین خانهی رخ است ** گفت خانه از کجاش آمد بدست
Did it buy the house, or inherit it?”—Happy is he that sped towards the (real) meaning!
خانه را بخرید یا میراث یافت ** فرخ آن کس کاو سوی معنی شتافت
A grammarian said, “Zayd has struck ‘Amr.” Said (the fool), “How did he chastise him without any offence (on his part)?
گفت نحوی زید عمرا قد ضرب ** گفت چونش کرد بیجرمی ادب
What was ‘Amr's offence, that that rude Zayd struck him, innocent (though he was), as (if he were) a slave?”3630
عمرو را جرمش چه بد کان زید خام ** بیگنه او را بزد همچون غلام
He (the grammarian) replied, “This (form of words) is (only) the measure (container) of the meaning signified: take some wheat, for the measure is (to be) rejected.
گفت این پیمانهی معنی بود ** گندمی بستان که پیمانه است رد