How did that knowledge (of his) profit Sámirí, whom the skill (shown in making the golden Calf) banished from God's door?
سامری را آن هنر چه سود کرد ** کان فن از باب اللهش مردود کرد
What did Qárún gain by his alchemy? See how the earth bore him down to its abyss.
چه کشید از کیمیا قارون ببین ** که فرو بردش به قعر خود زمین
What, after all, did Bu ’l-Hakam (Abú Jahl) get from (intellectual) knowledge? On account of his unbelief he went headlong into Hell.
بوالحکم آخر چه بر بست از هنر ** سرنگون رفت او ز کفران در سقر
Know that (true) knowledge consists in seeing fire plainly, not in prating that smoke is evidence of fire.2505
خود هنر آن داد که دید آتش عیان ** نه کپ دل علی النار الدخان
O you whose evidence in the eyes of the Sage is really more stinking than the evidence of the physician,
ای دلیلت گنده‌تر پیش لبیب ** در حقیقت از دلیل آن طبیب
Since you have no evidence but this, O son, eat dung and inspect urine!
چون دلیلت نیست جز این ای پسر ** گوه می‌خور در کمیزی می‌نگر
O you whose evidence is like the staff in your hand (which) indicates that you suffer from blindness,
ای دلیل تو مثال آن عصا ** در کفت دل علی عیب العمی
(All this) noise and pompous talk and assumption of authority (only means), “I cannot see: (kindly) excuse me.”
غلغل و طاق و طرنب و گیر و دار ** که نمی‌بینم مرا معذور دار
How the Sayyid, the King of Tirmid, proclaimed that he would give robes of honour and horses and slave-boys and slave-girls and a large sum in gold to any one who would go on urgent business to Samarcand (and complete the journey) in three or four days; and how Dalqak, having heard the news of this proclamation in the country (where he then was), came post-haste to the king, saying, “I, at all events, cannot go.”
منادی کردن سید ملک ترمد کی هر کی در سه یا چهار روز به سمرقند رود به فلان مهم خلعت و اسپ و غلام و کنیزک و چندین زر دهم و شنیدن دلقک خبر این منادی در ده و آمدن به اولاقی نزد شاه کی من باری نتوانم رفتن
The sagacious Dalqak was the buffoon (court-jester) of the Sayyid of Tirmid, who reigned in that place (city).2510
سید ترمد که آنجا شاه بود ** مسخره‌ی او دلقک آگاه بود
He (the king) had an urgent affair in Samarcand, and wanted a courier in order that he might conclude it.
داشت کاری در سمرقند او مهم ** جست‌الاقی تا شود او مستتم