If thou wilt not be lavish (of thyself) like the date-palm, (then) pile old rags on old rags and make a heap,810
گر نباشی نخل‌وار ایثار کن ** کهنه بر کهنه نه و انبار کن
And offer the stinking and rotten old rags to every blind man.
کهنه و گندیده و پوسیده را ** تحفه می‌بر بهر هر نادیده را
He that hath seen the new is not thy customer: he is God's prey, he is not thy captive.
آنک نو دید او خریدار تو نیست ** صید حقست او گرفتار تو نیست
(But) wherever is a flock of blind birds, they will gather around thee, O brackish flood-water,
هر کجا باشند جوق مرغ کور ** بر تو جمع آیند ای سیلاب شور
That (their) blindness may be increased by (thy) brackish waters; for brackish water increases blindness.
تا فزاید کوری از شورابها ** زانک آب شور افزاید عمی
Hence the worldly are blind of heart: they are drinkers of the brackish water of clay.815
اهل دنیا زان سبب اعمی‌دل‌اند ** شارب شورابه‌ی آب و گل‌اند
Continue to give brackish water and buy (the favour of) the blind in the world, since thou hast not the Water of Life within thee.
شور می‌ده کور می‌خر در جهان ** چون نداری آب حیوان در نهان
In such a (despicable) state (as has been described) thou wouldst fain live and be remembered: in blackness of face (shame and opprobrium), like a negro, thou art rejoicing.
با چنین حالت بقا خواهی و یاد ** هم‌چو زنگی در سیه‌رویی تو شاد
The negro in (his) blackness is pleased (with himself), for he has (always) been a negro by birth and nature;
در سیاهی زنگی زان آسوده است ** کو ز زاد و اصل زنگی بوده است
(But) he that (even) for a day is beloved and beautiful, if he become black, will seek to repair (the misfortune).
آنک روزی شاهد و خوش‌رو بود ** گر سیه‌گردد تدارک‌جو بود