If a robber be pardoned, he saves his life, (but) how should he become a vizier and keeper of the treasury?
دزد را گر عفو باشد جان برد ** کی وزیر و خازن مخزن شود
Come, O godly Amínu’ddín, for every tiara and ensign has grown from trustworthiness (amánat).3155
ای امین الدین ربانی بیا ** کز امانت رست هر تاج و لوا
If the Sultan's son become a traitor to him, on that account his head will be severed from his body;
پور سلطان گر برو خاین شود ** آن سرش از تن بدان باین شود
And if a Hindú slave show faithfulness, sovereignty will applaud him (and cry), ‘Long may he live!’
وز غلامی هندوی آرد وفا ** دولت او را می‌زند طال بقا
What of a slave? If a dog is faithful (in keeping watch) at a door, there are a hundred feelings of satisfaction with him in the heart of the master (of the house).
چه غلام ار بر دری سگ باوفاست ** در دل سالار او را صد رضاست
Since, because of this (faithfulness), he kisses the mouth of a dog, if he (the faithful one) be a lion, how triumphant he will make him!
زین چو سگ را بوسه بر پوزش دهد ** گر بود شیری چه پیروزش کند
(Robbers get nothing but pardon), except, to be sure, the robber who performs acts of service (to God) and whose sincerity uproots his (former) perfidy,3160
جز مگر دزدی که خدمتها کند ** صدق او بیخ جفا را بر کند
Like Fudayl, the brigand who played straight, because he ran with the strength of ten men towards repentance;
چون فضیل ره‌زنی کو راست باخت ** زانک ده مرده به سوی توبه تاخت
And as the magicians (who) blackened the face of Pharaoh by their fortitude and faithfulness.
وآنچنان که ساحران فرعون را ** رو سیه کردند از صبر و وفا
They gave their hands and feet (to be cut off as a penalty) for the crime that entailed retaliation: how should that (degree of faithfulness) be attained by means of a hundred years' devotional service?
دست و پا دادند در جرم قود ** آن به صد ساله عبادت کی شود