He (the divine) said, “I defrauded (you), but (at the same time) I declared to you the (truth of the) matter by way of admonition.”
گفت بنمودم دغل لیکن ترا ** از نصیحت باز گفتم ماجرا
Likewise the World, though it blossomed delightfully (made a fair show), at the same time uttered a (warning) cry and declared its faithlessness.
هم‌چنین دنیا اگر چه خوش شکفت ** بانگ زد هم بی‌وفایی خویش گفت
In this (realm of) existence and corruption, O master, existence is the fraud and that corruption is the admonition.
اندرین کون و فساد ای اوستاد ** آن دغل کون و نصیحت آن فساد
Existence says, “Come, I am delectable,” and its corruption says, “Go, I am nothing.”1595
کون می‌گوید بیا من خوش‌پیم ** وآن فسادش گفته رو من لا شی‌ام
O thou that bitest thy lip (in admiration) at the beauty of spring, look on the coldness and paleness of autumn.
ای ز خوبی بهاران لب گزان ** بنگر آن سردی و زردی خزان
In the daytime thou didst deem the countenance of the sun beauteous: remember its death in the moment of setting.
روز دیدی طلعت خورشید خوب ** مرگ او را یاد کن وقت غروب
Thou sawest the full-moon on this lovely firmament: observe also its anguish (caused by the loss of visibility) during the interlunar period.
بدر را دیدی برین خوش چار طاق ** حسرتش را هم ببین اندر محاق
A boy, on account of his beauty, became the lord of the people: after the morrow he became doting and exposed to the scorn of the people.
کودکی از حسن شد مولای خلق ** بعد فردا شد خرف رسوای خلق
If the body of those in the fresh bloom of youth has made thee a prey, after (it has come to) old age behold a body (bleached) like a cotton plantation.1600
گر تن سیمین‌تنان کردت شکار ** بعد پیری بین تنی چون پنبه‌زار
O thou who hast seen rich viands, arise and see the residue thereof in the latrine.
ای بدیده لوتهای چرب خیز ** فضله‌ی آن را ببین در آب‌ریز