’Tis better that a face like that, which is wholly (composed of) hypocrisy and malice, should be hidden from Moslems.
آنچنان رو که همه رزق و شرست ** از مسلمانان نهان اولیترست
There are faces on which demons are settled like gnats, as (though they were) guardsmen.
رویها باشد که دیوان چون مگس ** بر سرش بنشسته باشند چون حرس
When you behold his (such a one's) face, they (the demons) fall upon you: either do not behold that face, (or) when you have beheld (it), do not laugh pleasantly.
چون ببینی روی او در تو فتند ** یا مبین آن رو چو دیدی خوش مخند
Concerning such a wicked, sinful face God hath said, “Verily, We will drag (him) by the forelock.”
در چنان روی خبیث عاصیه ** گفت یزدان نسفعن بالناصیه
When they (the townsman's party) had made enquiry and found his (the countryman's) house, they hurried like kinsfolk to the door.605
چون بپرسیدند و خانه‌ش یافتند ** همچو خویشان سوی در بشتافتند
(Thereupon) the people in his house bolted the door. At this perverseness, the Khwája became mad-like,
در فرو بستند اهل خانه‌اش ** خواجه شد زین کژروی دیوانه‌وش
But indeed it was no time for asperity: when you have fallen into the pit, what is the use of being enraged?
لیک هنگام درشتی هم نبود ** چون در افتادی بچه تیزی چه سود
Five days they remained at his door: (they passed) the night in the cold, the day itself in the blaze of the sun.
بر درش ماندند ایشان پنج روز ** شب بسرما روز خود خورشیدسوز
Their remaining (there) was not from heedlessness or asininity; nay, it was from necessity and want of an ass.
نه ز غفلت بود ماندن نه خری ** بلک بود از اضطرار و بی‌خری
From necessity, the good are (often) bound to the vile: from sore hunger the lion will eat a putrid carcase.610
با لیمان بسته نیکان ز اضطرار ** شیر مرداری خورد از جوع زار