(To be) a seeker of God, and then (indulge in) pleasure and drinking! (To drink) the Devil's wine, and then be (even) semi-intelligent!”
طالب یزدان و آنگه عیش و نوش ** بادهی شیطان و آنگه نیم هوش
(Even) without wine your intelligence is so shabby (that other) intelligences must be tied (added) to your (present) intelligence.3470
هوش تو بی می چنین پژمرده است ** هوشها باید بر آن هوش تو بست
Consider, (then), what your intelligence will be at the time when you are intoxicated, O you who like a bird have fallen a prey to the snare of intoxication.
تا چه باشد هوش تو هنگام سکر ** ای چو مرغی گشته صید دام سکر
Story of Ziyá-yi Dalq, who was very tall, while his brother, the Shaykh of Islam Táj of Balkh, was exceedingly short; and this Shaykh of Islam was ashamed of his brother Ziyá. (One day) Ziyá came to (hear) his brother's lecture, at which all the leading men of Balkh were present. Ziyá made a bow (to his brother) and passed on. The Shaykh of Islam half rose (from his seat) in a negligent manner, (whereupon) he (Ziyá) said, “Yes, you are very tall: take a bit off (your height)!”
حکایت ضیاء دلق کی سخت دراز بود و برادرش شیخ اسلام تاج بلخ به غایت کوتاه بالا بود و این شیخ اسلام از برادرش ضیا ننگ داشتی ضیا در آمد به درس او و همه صدور بلخ حاضر به درس او ضیا خدمتی کرد و بگذشت شیخ اسلام او را نیم قیامی کرد سرسری گفت آری سخت درازی پارهای در دزد
Ziyá-yi Dalq was a man of goodly inspiration: he was the brother of Táj, the Shaykh of Islam.
آن ضیاء دلق خوش الهام بود ** دادر آن تاج شیخ اسلام بود
Táj, the Shaykhu ’l-Islám of the imperial city of Balkh, was short of stature and small as a chick.
تاج شیخ اسلام دار الملک بلخ ** بود کوتهقد و کوچک همچو فرخ
Though he was learned and eminent and accomplished, (his brother) this Ziyá was superior in wit.
گرچه فاضل بود و فحل و ذو فنون ** این ضیا اندر ظرافت بد فزون
He (Táj) was very short, while Ziyá was tall beyond measure: the Shaykh of Islam had a hundred arrogances and haughty airs.3475
او بسی کوته ضیا بیحد دراز ** بود شیخ اسلام را صد کبر و ناز
He felt ashamed of this brother and disgraced (by him); yet Ziyá was a preacher in the way of salvation.
زین برادر عار و ننگش آمدی ** آن ضیا هم واعظی بد با هدی
On the day of congregation Ziyá came in: the hall was filled with cadis and men distinguished (for piety).
روز محفل اندر آمد آن ضیا ** بارگه پر قاضیان و اصفیا
In his complete arrogance the Shaykh of Islam (only) half rose (from his seat), in such a (careless) fashion, to (salute) his brother.
کرد شیخ اسلام از کبر تمام ** این برادر را چنین نصف القیام