The cause of (his) delay in coming hither was lack of capability and defect of skill.”
موجب تاخیر اینجا آمدن ** فقد استعداد بود و ضعف فن
(If) you go into a mine without (having) capability, you will not gain possession of a single grain (of gold),4425
بی ز استعداد در کانی روی ** بر یکی حبه نگردی محتوی
Tanquam vir veneri inhabilis qui virginem emit: ea, etsi pectus argenteum (candidum) sit, frui quo pacto poterit? [Like an impotent man who buys a virgin (for a slave): even if she is a silver-breasted (beauty), how can he enjoy (her sexually)?]
هم‌چو عنینی که بکری را خرد ** گرچه سیمین‌بر بود کی بر خورد
(The incapable man is) like a lamp without oil or wick that gets neither much nor little from the (flaming) taper.
چون چراغی بی ز زیت و بی فتیل ** نه کثیرستش ز شمع و نه قلیل
(If) one who cannot smell enter a garden, how should his brain (nose) be delighted by the fragrant herbs?—
در گلستان اندر آید اخشمی ** کی شود مغزش ز ریحان خرمی
Tanquam formosa et venusta hospita viri debilis; (and) like the sound of a harp or lute in the ears of the deaf; [Like a beautiful (and) charming woman (who is) the guest of a feeble (impotent) man; (and like) the sound of a harp or lute in the ears of the deaf;]
هم‌چو خوبی دلبری مهمان غر ** بانگ چنگ و بربطی در پیش کر
(And) like the land-bird that falls into great waters: what should it find there but death and perdition?4430
هم‌چو مرغ خاک که آید در بحار ** زان چه یابد جز هلاک و جز خسار
(And) like one who, having no wheat, goes to a mill: nothing will be given to him except the whitening of his beard and hair (with flour).
هم‌چو بی‌گندم شده در آسیا ** جز سپیدی ریش و مو نبود عطا
The celestial mill bestows on those who have no wheat (only) whiteness of hair and weakness in the loins;