- That one says to him, “Both the worlds are thine, all our souls are thy soul's parasites.”
- آنش گوید هر دو عالم آن تست ** جمله جانهامان طفیل جان تست
- When he sees the people intoxicated with (desire for) him, because of arrogance he loses self-control.
- او چو بیند خلق را سر مست خویش ** از تکبر میرود از دست خویش
- He does not know that the Devil has cast thousands like him into the water of the river (of destruction).
- او نداند که هزاران را چو او ** دیو افکنده ست اندر آب جو
- The world's flattery and hypocrisy is a sweet morsel: eat less of it (eat it not), for it is a morsel full of fire. 1855
- لطف و سالوس جهان خوش لقمهای است ** کمترش خور کان پر آتش لقمهای است
- Its fire is hidden and its taste is manifest: its smoke becomes visible in the end.
- آتشش پنهان و ذوقش آشکار ** دود او ظاهر شود پایان کار
- Do not say, “How should I swallow that praise? He is speaking from desire (for reward): I am on his track (and see quite well what he is after).”
- تو مگو آن مدح را من کی خورم ** از طمع میگوید او پی میبرم
- If your belauder should satirise you in public, your heart would burn for (many) days on account of those scorches (of vituperation).
- مادحت گر هجو گوید بر ملا ** روزها سوزد دلت ز آن سوزها
- Although you know that he (only) said it in disappointment because the hopes he had of you brought him no gain,
- گر چه دانی کاو ز حرمان گفت آن ** کان طمع که داشت از تو شد زیان
- (Yet) the effect thereof is remaining within you. The same experience happens to you in the case of praise. 1860
- آن اثر میماندت در اندرون ** در مدیح این حالتت هست آزمون
- The effect of that too lasts for many days and becomes a source of arrogance and deception of the soul,
- آن اثر هم روزها باقی بود ** مایهی کبر و خداع جان شود
- But it does not show itself, because praise is sweet; (in the case of blame) the evil shows itself, because blame is bitter.
- لیک ننماید چو شیرین است مدح ** بد نماید ز آن که تلخ افتاد قدح
- It (blame) is like (bitter) decoctions and pills which you swallow and for a long time you are in disturbance and pain,
- همچو مطبوخ است و حب کان را خوری ** تا به دیری شورش و رنج اندری
- Whereas, if you eat halwá (sweetmeat), its taste is momentary: this effect, like the other, is not enduring for ever.
- ور خوری حلوا بود ذوقش دمی ** این اثر چون آن نمیپاید همی
- Since it does not endure (perceptibly), it endures imperceptibly: recognise every opposite by means of its opposite. 1865
- چون نمیپاید همیپاید نهان ** هر ضدی را تو به ضد او بدان
- When the effect of sugar endures (remains latent), after a while it produces boils that call for the lancet.
- چون شکر پاید نهان تاثیر او ** بعد حینی دمل آرد نیش جو
- The fleshly soul was made a Pharaoh by (receiving) many praises: be lowly of spirit through meekness, do not domineer.
- نفس از بس مدحها فرعون شد ** کن ذلیل النفس هونا لا تسد
- So far as you can, become a slave, do not be a monarch. Suffer blows: become like the ball, do not be the bat.
- تا توانی بنده شو سلطان مباش ** زخم کش چون گوی شو چوگان مباش
- Otherwise, when this elegance and beauty remains with you no more, you will be loathed by those companions.
- ور نه چون لطفت نماند وین جمال ** از تو آید آن حریفان را ملال
- The set of people who used to flatter you deceitfully, when they behold you will call you a devil. 1870
- آن جماعت کت همیدادند ریو ** چون ببینندت بگویندت که دیو
- When they see you at their doors, they all will cry, “Truly a dead man has risen from the grave.”
- جمله گویندت چو بینندت به در ** مردهای از گور خود بر کرد سر
- (You will be) like the beardless youth whom they address as “Lord” that by this hypocrisy they may make entrap him.
- همچو امرد که خدا نامش کنند ** تا بدین سالوس در دامش کنند
- As soon as he has grown a beard in infamy, the Devil is ashamed to search after him.
- چون که در بد نامی آمد ریش او ** دیو را ننگ آید از تفتیش او
- The Devil approaches Man for the sake of wickedness: he does not approach you because you are worse than the Devil.
- دیو سوی آدمی شد بهر شر ** سوی تو ناید که از دیوی بتر
- So long as you were a man the Devil was running at your heels and bidding you taste (his) wine. 1875
- تا تو بودی آدمی دیو از پیات ** میدوید و میچشانید او میات
- Since you have become confirmed in devilry, the good-for-nothing Devil is fleeing from you!
- چون شدی در خوی دیوی استوار ** میگریزد از تو دیو نابکار