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
Let the falcon fly and catch the spiritual dove: in calling (to God) take the way of Noah.
باز پران کن حمام روح گیر ** در ره دعوت طریق نوح گیر
Perform an act of service for the Creator's sake: what hast thou to do with being accepted or rejected by the people?845
خدمتی می‌کن برای کردگار ** با قبول و رد خلقانت چه کار
Story of the person who was giving the drum-call for the sahúr at the gate of a certain palace at midnight. A neighbour said to him, “Why, it is midnight, it is not (yet) dawn; and besides, there is no one in this palace: for whose sake are you drumming?”—and the minstrel's reply to him.
داستان آن شخص کی بر در سرایی نیم‌شب سحوری می‌زد همسایه او را گفت کی آخر نیم‌شبست سحر نیست و دیگر آنک درین سرا کسی نیست بهر کی می‌زنی و جواب گفتن مطرب او را
A certain man was drumming at a certain gate to announce the sahúr: ’twas a court-house and the pavilion of a grandee.
آن یکی می‌زد سحوری بر دری ** درگهی بود و رواق مهتری