- 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
- He said to him again, “O fair-spoken sage, explain a little about your own circumstances as well.
- باز گفتش ای حکیم خوش سخن ** شمهای از حال خود هم شرح کن
- (With) such intelligence and talent as you have, are you a vizier or a king? Tell the truth.”
- این چنین عقل و کفایت که تراست ** تو وزیری یا شهی بر گوی راست
- He answered, “I am not (either of) these two: I am of the common folk. Look at my appearance and dress.”
- گفت این هر دو نیم از عامهام ** بنگر اندر حال و اندر جامهام
- He asked, “How many camels have you? How many oxen?” “I have neither these nor those,” he replied: “do not dig at me.”
- گفت اشتر چند داری چند گاو ** گفت نه این و نه آن ما را مکاو
- He said, “At any rate, what goods have you in your shop?” He answered, “Where have I a shop, and where a dwelling-place?” 3190
- گفت رختت چیست باری در دکان ** گفت ما را کو دکان و کو مکان
- “Then,” said he, “I will ask about money. How much money (have you)?—for you are a solitary wanderer and one whose counsel is prized.
- گفت پس از نقد پرسم نقد چند ** که تویی تنها رو و محبوب پند
- With you is the elixir which changes the copper of the world (into) gold: your understanding and knowledge are inlaid with pearls.”
- کیمیای مس عالم با تو است ** عقل و دانش را گهر تو بر تو است
- “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property there is not the means of (buying) food for the night.
- گفت و الله نیست یا وجه العرب ** در همه ملکم وجوه قوت شب
- I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.
- پا برهنه تن برهنه میدوم ** هر که نانی میدهد آن جا روم
- From this wisdom and learning and excellence (of mind) I have got nothing but phantasy and headache.” 3195
- مر مرا زین حکمت و فضل و هنر ** نیست حاصل جز خیال و درد سر
- Then the Arab said to him, “Begone far from my side, so that your ill-luck may not rain upon me.
- پس عرب گفتش که شو دور از برم ** تا نبارد شومی تو بر سرم
- Take far away from me that unlucky wisdom of yours: your speech is unlucky for (all) the people of the time.
- دور بر آن حکمت شومت ز من ** نطق تو شرم است بر اهل زمن