At the time of silence all three had one thought; at the time of speech, too, all three had one argument.
در خموشی هر سه را خطرت یکی ** در سخن هم هر سه را حجت یکی
At one moment they all were shedding tears and weeping blood on the dining-table of calamity;3890
یک زمانی اشک‌ریزان جمله‌شان ** بر سر خوان مصیبت خون‌فشان
At another moment all three, from the fire in their hearts, heaved burning sighs as (hot as) a chafing-pan.
یک زمان از آتش دل هر سه کس ** بر زده با سوز چون مجمر نفس
The discourse of the eldest brother.
مقالت برادر بزرگین
The eldest said, “O men of probity, were not we masculine (vigorous and bold) in giving counsel to others?
آن بزرگین گفت ای اخوان خیر ** ما نه نر بودیم اندر نصح غیر
Whenever one of the (King's) retainers complained to us of affliction and poverty and fear and agitation,
از حشم هر که به ما کردی گله ** از بلا و فقر و خوف و زلزله
We used to say, ‘Do not bewail thy hardships: be patient, for patience (fortitude) is the key to relief from pain.’
ما همی‌گفتیم کم نال از حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
What has become now of this key, (namely) fortitude? Wonderful! The rule (which we laid down for others) is null and void (for us): what has become of it?3895
این کلید صبر را اکنون چه شد ** ای عجب منسوخ شد قانون چه شد
Did not we always say, ‘In the (hour of) struggle laugh happily like gold in the fire’?
ما نمی‌گفتیم که اندر کش مکش ** اندر آتش هم‌چو زر خندید خوش
We said to the soldiers at the time of conflict in battle, ‘Hark, do not change colour (lose courage)!’
مر سپه را وقت تنگاتنگ جنگ ** گفته ما که هین مگردانید رنگ
At the time when the ground trodden underfoot by the horses was entirely (composed of) severed heads,
آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا ** جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا