Would you like one dirhem to-day, my king, or three dirhems at breakfast-time to-morrow?”2715
یک درم خواهی تو امروز ای شهم ** یا که فردا چاشتگاهی سه درم
He replied, “I am more pleased with (the possession of) half a dirhem yesterday than with (the promise of) this (one dirhem) to-day and a hundred dirhems to-morrow.”
گفت دی نیم درم راضی‌ترم ** زانک امروز این و فردا صد درم
(The mouse said), “A slap (given) in cash (immediately) is better than a donation (paid) on credit (hereafter): lo, I put the nape of my neck before thee: give (me) the cash!
سیلی نقد از عطاء نسیه به ** نک قفا پیشت کشیدم نقد ده
Especially as the slap is from thy hand, for both the nape and the slap inflicted on it are intoxicated (enraptured) with thee.
خاصه آن سیلی که از دست توست ** که قفا و سیلیش مست توست
Hark, come, O soul of my soul and (O thou who art the soul) of a hundred worlds, gladly take the opportunity of (seizing) the cash of this (present) moment.
هین بیا ای جان جان و صد جهان ** خوش غنیمت دار نقد این زمان
Do not stealthily remove thy moon-like face from the night-travellers, do not withdraw thyself from this river-bed, O flowing water,2720
در مدزد آن روی مه از شب روان ** سرمکش زین جوی ای آب روان
(But flow) in order that the river-bank may laugh (may be made to blossom) by the running water, and that jasmines may rear their heads on each brim of the river.”
تا لب جو خندد از آب معین ** لب لب جو سر برآرد یاسمین
When you see that verdure is fresh on the river-brim, then (you may) know (even) from afar that water is there.
چون ببینی بر لب جو سبزه مست ** پس بدان از دور که آنجا آب هست
The Maker hath said, “Their mark is (on) their faces,” for the verdant orchard tells a tale of rain.
گفت سیماهم وجوه کردگار ** که بود غماز باران سبزه‌زار
If it rains during the night, no one sees (the rain), for (then) every soul and breath is asleep;
گر ببارد شب نبیند هیچ کس ** که بود در خواب هر نفس و نفس