Especially the man of God, who is active in (showing) excellence: he becomes filled with that wind (of praise), like an undamaged leathern bag;
خاصه مرد حق که در فضلست چست ** پر شود زان باد چون خیک درست
But if he (the recipient of praise) be not worthy, the bag is rent by that wind of falsehood: how should it receive lustre?
ور نباشد اهل زان باد دروغ ** خیک بدریدست کی گیرد فروغ
I have not invented this parable, O comrade: do not hear it (as though it were) silly, if thou art worthy and restored to thy senses.
این مثل از خود نگفتم ای رفیق ** سرسری مشنو چو اهلی و مفیق
The Prophet (Mohammed) said (something like) this, when he heard vituperation (from the infidels who asked), “Why is Ahmad (Mohammed) made fat (happy) by praise?”
این پیمبر گفت چون بشنید قدح ** که چرا فربه شود احمد به مدح
The poet went to the king and brought a poem in thanks (and praise) for (his) beneficence, saying that it (beneficence) never died.1200
رفت شاعر پیش آن شاه و ببرد ** شعر اندر شکر احسان کان نمرد
The beneficent died, and (their) acts of beneficence remained: oh, blest is he that rode this steed!
محسنان مردند و احسانها بماند ** ای خنک آن را که این مرکب براند
The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud!
ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها
The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.”
گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو
The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account.