Generosity, then, comes from the eye, not from the hand: ’tis seeing that matters; none but the seer is saved.900
پس سخا از چشم آمد نه ز دست ** دید دارد کار جز بینا نرست
“Another fault (of his is) that he is not self-conceited; he is anxious to find fault with his self-existence.
عیب دیگر این که خود بین نیست او ** هست او در هستی خود عیب جو
He has (always) been one who speaks in blame of himself and seeks to blame himself; he has (always) been good (kind) to all and bad (unkind) to himself.”
عیب گوی و عیب جوی خود بده ست ** با همه نیکو و با خود بد بده ست
The King said, “Do not show (such) eagerness in praising your friend, do not introduce praise of yourself in the mask of (your) praise of him;
گفت شه جلدی مکن در مدح یار ** مدح خود در ضمن مدح او میار
Because I will bring him to the test, and shame will befall you in the upshot.”
ز انکه من در امتحان آرم و را ** شرمساری آیدت در ما ورا
How the slave, from the purity of his thought, swore to the truth and loyalty of his friend.
قسم غلام در صدق و وفای یار خود از طهارت ظن خود
He said, “Nay, by Allah, and by the great God, the possessor of kingdom, and by the Merciful and Compassionate One;905
گفت نه و الله و بالله العظیم ** مالک الملک و به رحمان و رحیم
By the God who sent the prophets, not in (His) need (of them), but in grace and majesty;
آن خدایی که فرستاد انبیا ** نه به حاجت بل به فضل و کبریا
By the Lord who from the lowly earth created (those) glorious princely riders,
آن خداوندی که از خاک ذلیل ** آفرید او شهسواران جلیل
(And) purified them from the temperament of earthly beings, and caused them to outrun the celestials;
پاکشان کرد از مزاج خاکیان ** بگذرانید از تک افلاکیان
(By Him) who took up from the Fire and fashioned into pure Light—and then it outstripped all (the other) lights—
بر گرفت از نار و نور صاف ساخت ** وانگه او بر جملهی انوار تاخت