Although God is munificent, the enjoyment of the delightful gardens ofParadise is forbidden to him who is destined for Hell.
نعمت جنات خوش بر دوزخمی ** شد محرم گرچه حق آمد سخی
The honey of Paradise becomes bitter in his mouth, since he was not (destined to be) one of them that faithfully keep the covenant of everlasting life.830
در دهانش تلخ آید شهد خلد ** چون نبود از وافیان در عهد خلد
Ye (worldly folk) also (who are engaged) in commerce—how should your hands move (to sell anything) when there is no buyer?
مر شما را نیز در سوداگری ** دست کی جنبد چو نبود مشتری
How should (idle) looking-on be capable of buying? The fool's looking-on is (not for buying, but merely for) loitering.
کی نظاره اهل بخریدن بود ** آن نظاره گول گردیدن بود
(He strolls about) continually asking, “How much is this?” and “How much is that?” for the sake of pastime and mockery.
پرس پرسان کین به چند و آن به چند ** از پی تعبیر وقت و ریش‌خند
(’Tis only) from boredom (that) he asks you (to show him) your goods: that person is not a buyer and customer.
از ملولی کاله می‌خواهد ز تو ** نیست آن کس مشتری و کاله‌جو
He inspects the article a hundred times and hands it back (to you): when did he (ever) measure a piece of cloth? He measured wind (and nothing else).835
کاله را صد بار دید و باز داد ** جامه کی پیمود او پیمود باد
What a distance between the approach and bargaining of a purchaser and the pleasantries of a silly joker?
کو قدوم و کر و فر مشتری ** کو مزاح گنگلی سرسری
Since there is not a mite in his possession, how should he seek (to buy) a coat except in jest?
چونک در ملکش نباشد حبه‌ای ** جز پی گنگل چه جوید جبه‌ای
He has no capital for trading: what, then, is the difference between his ill-favoured person and a shadow?
در تجارت نیستش سرمایه‌ای ** پس چه شخص زشت او چه سایه‌ای