To dart the lance in these narrow lanes brings to disgrace those who dart the lance.
نیزهبازی اندرین کوههای تنگ ** نیزهبازان را همی آرد به تنگ
The time is narrow (limited), and the mind and understanding of the vulgar is narrower a hundredfold than the time, O youth.
وقت تنگ و خاطر و فهم عوام ** تنگتر صد ره ز وقت است ای غلام
Inasmuch as silence is the (proper) reply to the fool, how art thou thus prolonging the discourse?
چون جواب احمق آمد خامشی ** این درازی در سخن چون میکشی
(Because) He (God), from the perfection of His mercy and the waves of His bounty, bestows rain and moisture on every barren soil.
از کمال رحمت و موج کرم ** میدهد هر شوره را باران و نم
Showing that (the proverb), "Omission to reply is a reply," confirms the saying that silence is the (proper) reply to the fool. The explanation of both these (sayings) is (contained) in the story which will now be related.
در بیان آنک ترک الجواب جواب مقرر این سخن کی جواب الاحمق سکوت شرح این هر دو درین قصه است کی گفته میآید
There was a king: he had a slave; he (the slave) was one whose reason was dead and whose lust was alive.1490
بود شاهی بود او را بندهای ** مرده عقلی بود و شهوتزندهای
He would neglect the niceties of service to him (the king): he was thinking evil and deeming (it) good.
خردههای خدمتش بگذاشتی ** بد سگالیدی نکو پنداشتی
The monarch said, “Reduce his allowance, and if he wrangle strike his name off the roll.”
گفت شاهنشه جرااش کم کنید ** ور بجنگد نامش از خط بر زنید
His reason was deficient, his cupidity excessive: when he saw the allowance reduced he became violent and refractory.
عقل او کم بود و حرص او فزون ** چون جرا کم دید شد تند و حرون
Had there been reason (in him), he would have made a circuit round himself, in order that he might see his offence and become forgiven.
عقل بودی گرد خود کردی طواف ** تا بدیدی جرم خود گشتی معاف
When, on account of asininity, a tethered ass becomes violent, both his (fore-)legs will be shackled in addition.1495
چون خری پابسته تندد از خری ** هر دو پایش بسته گردد بر سری