- (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
- He asked him about his native land and led him to talk and said many fine things in the course of (his) enquiry.
- از وطن پرسید و آوردش به گفت ** و اندر آن پرسش بسی درها بسفت
- Afterwards he said to him, “What are these two sacks filled with? Tell (me) the truth of the matter.”
- بعد از آن گفتش که این هر دو جوال ** چیست آگنده بگو مصدوق حال
- He replied, “In one sack I have wheat; in the other is some sand—not food for men.” 3180
- گفت اندر یک جوالم گندم است ** در دگر ریگی نه قوت مردم است
- “Why,” he asked, “did you load this sand?” “In order that the other sack might not remain alone,” he replied.
- گفت تو چون بار کردی این رمال ** گفت تا تنها نماند آن جوال
- “For wisdom's sake,” said he, “pour half the wheat of that pannier into the other,
- گفت نیم گندم آن تنگ را ** در دگر ریز از پی فرهنگ را
- So that the sacks may be lightened, and the camel too.” He (the Arab) cried, “Bravo! O clever and noble sage!
- تا سبک گردد جوال و هم شتر ** گفت شاباش ای حکیم اهل و حر
- Such subtle thought and excellent judgement! And you so naked, (journeying) on foot and in fatigue!”
- این چنین فکر دقیق و رای خوب ** تو چنین عریان پیاده در لغوب
- The good man took pity on the philosopher and resolved to mount him on the camel. 3185
- رحمتش آمد بر حکیم و عزم کرد ** کش بر اشتر بر نشاند نیک مرد