(’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
The capital (required) for the market of this world is gold; there (in the next world) the capital is love and two eyes wet (with tears).
مایه در بازار این دنیا زرست ** مایه آنجا عشق و دو چشم ترست
Whoever went to market without any capital, his life passed and he speedily returned in disappointment.840
هر که او بی‌مایه‌ی بازار رفت ** عمر رفت و بازگشت او خام تفت
“Oh, where hast thou been, brother?” “Nowhere.” “Oh, what hast thou cooked to eat?” “No (good) soup.”
هی کجا بودی برادر هیچ جا ** هی چه پختی بهر خوردن هیچ با
Become a buyer, that my hand may move (to sell to thee), and that my pregnant mine may bring forth the ruby.
مشتری شو تا بجنبد دست من ** لعل زاید معدن آبست من
Though the buyer is slack and lukewarm, (yet) call (him) to the (true) religion, for the (command to) call hath come down (from God).
مشتری گرچه که سست و باردست ** دعوت دین کن که دعوت واردست