When one king gains the upper hand (prevails) over another. king, he kills him or confines him in a dungeon;
چونک شاهی دست یابد بر شهی ** بکشدش یا باز دارد در چهی
But if he find a fallen wounded man, the king will make a plaster for him and bestow gifts on him.
ور بیابد خسته‌ی افتاده را ** مرهمش سازد شه و بدهد عطا
If that pride is not poison, then why did he kill the (vanquished) king without (his having committed any) crime or offence?
گر نه زهرست آن تکبر پس چرا ** کشت شه را بی‌گناه و بی‌خطا
And how did he treat this other (helpless) man (so) kindly without (his having performed any) service? From these two actions you may recognise (the poisonous nature of) pride.
وین دگر را بی ز خدمت چون نواخت ** زین دو جنبش زهر را شاید شناخت
No highwayman ever attacked a beggar: does a wolf ever bite a dead wolf?2755
راه‌زن هرگز گدایی را نزد ** گرگ گرگ مرده را هرگز گزد
Khizr made a breach in the boat in order that the boat might be saved from the wicked.
خضر کشتی را برای آن شکست ** تا تواند کشتی از فجار رست
Since the broken (contrite) one will be saved, be thou broken (contrite). Safety lies in poverty enter into poverty
چون شکسته می‌رهد اشکسته شو ** امن در فقرست اندر فقر رو
The mountain that possessed some cash in its mine was riven to pieces by the strokes of the pick-axe.
آن کهی کو داشت از کان نقد چند ** گشت پاره پاره از زخم کلند
The sword is for him who has a (high and proud) neck; no blow falls on the shadow that is thrown (flat upon the ground).
تیغ بهر اوست کو را گردنیست ** سایه که افکندست بر وی زخم نیست
Eminence is naphtha and fire, O misguided one: O brother, how (why) art thou going into the fire?2760
مهتری نفطست و آتش ای غوی ** ای برادر چون بر آذر می‌روی