O cuckold, (if) you don't know, don't talk nonsense; and if you do know, play (a tune) to the purpose.
قلتبانا می‌ندانی گه مخور ** ور همی‌دانی بزن مقصود بر
Tell of that which you know, O crazy fool: don't draw out (repeat continually) ‘I know not, I know not.’
آن بگو ای گیج که می‌دانیش ** می‌ندانم می‌ندانم در مکش
(Suppose) I ask, ‘Where do you come from, hypocrite, eh?’ you will say, ‘Not from Balkh, and not from Herát,715
من بپرسم کز کجایی هی مری ** تو بگویی نه ز بلخ و نه از هری
Not from Baghdád and not from Mosul and not from Tiráz’: you will draw out a long journey in (saying) ‘not’ and ‘not.’
نه ز بغداد و نه موصل نه طراز ** در کشی در نی و نی راه دراز
Just say where you come from and escape (from further discussion): in this case it is folly to elaborate the point at issue.
خود بگو من از کجاام باز ره ** هست تنقیح مناط اینجا بله
Or (suppose) I asked, ‘What had you for breakfast?’ you would say, ‘Not wine and not roast-meat,
یا بپرسیدم چه خوردی ناشتاب ** تو بگویی نه شراب و نه کباب
Not qadíd and not tharíd and not lentils’: tell me what you did eat, only (that) and no more.
نه قدید و نه ثرید و نه عدس ** آنچ خوردی آن بگو تنها و بس
Wherefore is this long palaver?” “Because,” said the minstrel, “my object is recondite.720
این سخن‌خایی دراز از بهر چیست ** گفت مطرب زانک مقصودم خفیست
Before (until) you deny (all else), affirmation (of God) evades (you): I denied (everything) in order that you might get a scent of (perceive the means of attaining to) affirmation.
می‌رمد اثبات پیش از نفی تو ** نفی کردم تا بری ز اثبات بو
I play the tune of negation: when you die, death will declare the mystery.
در نوا آرم بنفی این ساز را ** چون بمیری مرگ گوید راز را
[Commentary on his (the Prophet's) saying—peace be upon him!— ‘Die before ye die.’ ‘O friend, die before thy death if thou desirest life; for by so dying Idrís became a dweller in Paradise before (the rest of) us.’]
تفسیر قوله علیه‌السلام موتوا قبل ان تموتوا بمیر ای دوست پیش از مرگ اگر می زندگی خواهی کی ادریس از چنین مردن بهشتی گشت پیش از ما