He gallops his horse towards lowness, albeit he rings the bell (proclaims that he is going) aloft.
او بسوی سفل میراند فرس ** گر چه سوی علو جنباند جرس
What is there to fear from the flags of beggars?—for those flags are (but) a means for (getting) a mouthful of bread.
از علمهای گدایان ترس چیست ** کان علمها لقمهی نان را رهی است
Timet puer quidam hominem corpulentum. “Ne timueris,” inquit, “O puer; ego enim vir non sum.” [About a boy’s fear of the corpulent man and how that person said, “Don’t be afraid, O boy, since I am not manly.”]
ترسیدن کودک از آن شخص صاحب جثه و گفتن آن شخص که ای کودک مترس که من نامردم
Juvenis robustus puerum deprehendit solum. Palluit timore puer ne forte homo impetum faceret. [A stout youth found a boy alone. The boy turned pale from fear of the man’s intention (to attack).]3155
کنگ زفتی کودکی را یافت فرد ** زرد شد کودک ز بیم قصد مرد
“Securus esto,” inquit, “mi pulcher; tu enim super me eris.” [He (the man) said, “Be secure, O my lovely one, since you will be on top of me. ]
گفت ایمن باش ای زیبای من ** که تو خواهی بود بر بالای من
Etiamsi terribilis (aspectu) sum, scito me impotentem esse ad coitum: me sicut camelum conscende, propelle.” [“Although I am dreadful (in appearance), know me (to be an impotent) catamite. Mount me like a camel (and) thrust.”]
من اگر هولم مخنث دان مرا ** همچو اشتر بر نشین میران مرا
(With) the appearance of men and the reality like this— Adam without, the accursed Devil within—
صورت مردان و معنی این چنین ** از برون آدم درون دیو لعین
O you that are big as the people of ‘Ád, you resemble the drum against which a branch was beaten by the wind.
آن دهل را مانی ای زفت چو عاد ** که بر او آن شاخ را میکوفت باد
A fox abandoned his prey for the sake of a drum like a wind-filled leathern bag,3160
روبهی اشکار خود را باد داد ** بهر طبلی همچو خیک پر ز باد
(But) when he found no (real) fatness in the drum, he said, “A hog is better than this empty bag.”
چون ندید اندر دهل او فربهی ** گفت خوکی به ازین خیک تهی
Foxes are afraid of the noise of the drum; (but) the wise man beats it ever so much, saying, “Speak not!”
روبهان ترسند ز آواز دهل ** عاقلش چندان زند که لا تقل
The story of an archer and his fear of a horseman who was riding in a forest.
قصهی تیر اندازی و ترسیدن او از سواری که در بیشه میرفت
A horseman, armed and very terrible (in appearance), was riding in the forest on a high-bred horse.
یک سواری با سلاح و بس مهیب ** میشد اندر بیشه بر اسبی نجیب
An expert archer espied him, and then from fear of him drew his bow,
تیر اندازی به حکم او را بدید ** پس ز خوف او کمان را در کشید
To shoot an arrow. The horseman shouted to him, “I am a weakling, though my body is big.3165
تا زند تیری سوارش بانگ زد ** من ضعیفم گر چه زفت استم جسد
Take heed! Take heed! Do not regard my bigness, for in the hour of battle I am less than an old woman.”
هان و هان منگر تو در زفتی من ** که کمم در وقت جنگ از پیر زن
“Pass on,” said he; “thou hast spoken well, else by reason of my fear I should have shot a barb at thee.”
گفت رو که نیک گفتی ور نه نیش ** بر تو میانداختم از ترس خویش
Many are they whom implements of war have slain, (since they held) such a sword in their hands, without the manhood (to use it).
بس کسان را کالت پیکار کشت ** بیرجولیت چنان تیغی به مشت
If you don the armour of Rustams, your soul goes (your life is lost) when you are not the man for it.
گر بپوشی تو سلاح رستمان ** رفت جانت چون نباشی مرد آن
Make your soul a shield and drop the sword, O son: whoever is headless (selfless) saves his head from this King.3170
جان سپر کن تیغ بگذار ای پسر ** هر که بیسر بود از این شه برد سر
Those weapons of yours are your (selfish) contriving and plotting; they have sprung from you and at the same time have wounded your soul.
آن سلاحت حیله و مکر تو است ** هم ز تو زایید و هم جان تو خست
Since you have gained nothing by these contrivings, abandon contrivance, that happy fortunes may meet (you).
چون نکردی هیچ سودی زین حیل ** ترک حیلت کن که پیش آید دول
Since you have not for one moment enjoyed (any) fruit from the arts (of the schools), bid farewell to the arts, and seek always the Lord of bounties.
چون که یک لحظه نخوردی بر ز فن ** ترک فن گو میطلب رب المنن
Since these sciences bring you no blessing, make yourself a dunce and leave ill luck behind.
چون مبارک نیست بر تو این علوم ** خویشتن گولی کن و بگذر ز شوم
Like the angels, say, “We have no knowledge, O God, except what Thou hast taught us.”3175
چون ملایک گو که لا علم لنا ** یا الهی غیر ما علمتنا
Story of the desert Arab and his putting sand in the sack and the philosopher's rebuking him.
قصهی اعرابی و ریگ در جوال کردن و ملامت کردن آن فیلسوف او را
A certain Arab of the desert loaded a camel with two big sacks—(there was) one full of grain.
یک عرابی بار کرده اشتری ** دو جوال زفت از دانه پری
He was seated on the top of both sacks. A glib philosopher questioned him.
او نشسته بر سر هر دو جوال ** یک حدیث انداز کرد او را سؤال