If now, in thy vile poltroonery, thou hast (only) stolen a beard (art devoid of real manhood), formerly thou must have been laughing at thy beard (making a mock display of manly virtue).
از غری ریش ار کنون دزدیده‌ای ** پیش ازین بر ریش خود خندیده‌ای
When thou exhortest others, (thy cry is), “Come on! come on!” In thine own anguish (thou criest), “Alas, alas!” like women.
وقت پند دیگرانی های های ** در غم خود چون زنانی وای وای
Since thou wert a cure for others' pain, (how is it that) thou art silent when pain has become thy guest?
چون به درد دیگران درمان بدی ** درد مهمان تو آمد تن زدی
’Twas thy fashion to shout at the soldiers (to encourage them): (now) shout (at thyself): why is thy voice choked?
بانگ بر لشکر زدن بد ساز تو ** بانگ بر زن چه گرفت آواز تو
For fifty years thou hast woven on (the loom of) thy intelligence: (now) put on an undervest of the fabric which thou thyself hast woven.3910
آنچ پنجه سال بافیدی به هوش ** زان نسیج خود بغلتانی بپوش
The ears of thy friends were delighted by thy song: (now) put forth thy hand and pull thine own ear.
از نوایت گوش یاران بود خوش ** دست بیرون آر و گوش خود بکش
(Formerly) thou wert always a head (leader): do not make thyself a tail, do not lose thy feet and hands and beard and moustache.
سر بدی پیوسته خود را دم مکن ** پا و دست و ریش و سبلت گم مکن
(Now) ’tis for thee to make a move on the (chess-) board: restore thyself to thy normal state (of spiritual health) and thy (natural) vigour.
بازی آن تست بر روی بساط ** خویش را در طبع آر و در نشاط
Anecdote of a king who brought a learned doctor into his banquet-hall by force and made him sit down. (When) the cup-bearer offered him wine and held out the goblet to him, the doctor averted his face and began to look sour and behave rudely. The king said to the cup-bearer, “Come, put him in a good humour.” The cup-bearer beat him on the head several times and made him drink the wine, etc.
ذکر آن پادشاه که آن دانشمند را به اکراه در مجلس آورد و بنشاند ساقی شراب بر دانشمند عرضه کرد ساغر پیش او داشت رو بگردانید و ترشی و تندی آغاز کرد شاه ساقی را گفت کی هین در طبعش آر ساقی چندی بر سرش کوفت و شرابش در خورد داد الی آخره
(Whilst) a drunken king was feasting merrily, a certain jurist passed by his gate.
پادشاهی مست اندر بزم خوش ** می‌گذشت آن یک فقیهی بر درش
He gave directions, saying, “Bring him into this hall and give him a drink of the ruby wine.”3915
کرد اشارت کش درین مجلس کشید ** وان شراب لعل را با او چشید