(Do not say to yourself), “So-and-so suddenly found a treasure; I would like the same: neither work nor shop (for me)!”
کان فلانی یافت گنجی ناگهان ** من همان خواهم نه کار و نه دکان
That (discovery of treasure) is Fortune's doing (a piece of luck), and moreover it is rare: one must earn a living so long as the body is able.
کار بخت است آن و آن هم نادر است ** کسب باید کرد تا تن قادر است
How does earning a livelihood prevent the (discovery of) treasure? Do not retire from work: that (treasure), indeed, is (following) behind (the work).735
کسب کردن گنج را مانع کی است ** پا مکش از کار آن خود در پی است
See that you are not made captive by “if,” saying, “If I had done this or the other (thing),”
تا نگردی تو گرفتار اگر ** که اگر این کردمی یا آن دگر
For the sincere Prophet forbade (people) to say “if,” and said, “That is from hypocrisy”;
کز اگر گفتن رسول با وفاق ** منع کرد و گفت آن هست از نفاق
For the hypocrite died in saying “if,” and from saying “if” he won nothing but remorse.
کان منافق در اگر گفتن بمرد ** وز اگر گفتن بجز حسرت نبرد
Parable.
مثل
A certain stranger was hastily seeking a house: a friend took him to a house in ruins.
آن غریبی خانه میجست از شتاب ** دوستی بردش سوی خانهی خراب
He said (to the stranger), “If this (house) had a roof, it would be a home for you beside me.740
گفت او این را اگر سقفی بدی ** پهلوی من مر ترا مسکن شدی
Your family too would be comfortable, if it had another room in it.”
هم عیال تو بیاسودی اگر ** در میانه داشتی حجرهی دگر
“Yes,” said he, “it is nice (to be) beside friends, but my dear soul, one cannot lodge in ‘if’.”
گفت آری پهلوی یاران خوش است ** لیک ای جان در اگر نتوان نشست