- On every side a ghoul is calling you—“Hark, O brother, (if) you wish (to find) the way, come (hither).
- هر طرف غولی همیخواند ترا ** کای برادر راه خواهی هین بیا
- I will show (you) the way, I will be your kind fellow-traveller, I am the guide (for you) on this intricate path.”
- ره نمایم همرهت باشم رفیق ** من قلاووزم درین راه دقیق
- She (the ghoul) is not the guide, and she does not know the way. O Joseph, do not go towards that wolfish one!
- نه قلاوزست و نه ره داند او ** یوسفا کم رو سوی آن گرگخو
- Prudence is this, that you be not beguiled by the fat things and sweets and snares of the World;
- حزم این باشد که نفریبد ترا ** چرب و نوش و دامهای این سرا
- For she hath neither fat nor sweet: she chants spells of magic and breathes (them) into your ear, 220
- که نه چربش دارد و نه نوش او ** سحر خواند میدمد در گوش او
- Saying, “Come in as my guest, O light (of my eyes): the house is yours, and you are mine.”
- که بیا مهمان ما ای روشنی ** خانه آن تست و تو آن منی
- Prudence is this, that you say (to her), “I have indigestion” or “I am ill, I am a sick man in this charnel-house”;
- حزم آن باشد که گویی تخمهام ** یا سقیمم خستهی این دخمهام
- Or “My head aches: take away my headache,” or “the son of my maternal uncle has invited me”—
- یا سرم دردست درد سر ببر ** یا مرا خواندست آن خالو پسر
- For she will give you one (draught of) honey (mixed) with (venomous) stings, so that her honey will plant in you (many) sores.
- زانک یک نوشت دهد با نیشها ** که بکارد در تو نوشش ریشها
- Whether she give you fifty or sixty (pieces of) gold, she gives you, O fish, (nothing but) flesh on a hook. 225
- زر اگر پنجاه اگر شصتت دهد ** ماهیا او گوشت در شستت دهد
- If she give, when does that deceitful one really give (aught)? The words of the swindler are (like) rotten walnuts.
- گر دهد خود کی دهد آن پر حیل ** جوز پوسیدست گفتار دغل
- Their rattling robs you of understanding and brain and does not reckon myriads of understandings (even) as one.
- ژغژغ آن عقل و مغزت را برد ** صد هزاران عقل را یک نشمرد
- (In travelling) your bag and your purse are your friend, (do not care for anything else): if you are Rámín, seek none but your Wísa.
- یار تو خرجین تست و کیسهات ** گر تو رامینی مجو جز ویسهات
- ’Tis your essential self that is your Wísa and beloved, and all these external things are banes to you.
- ویسه و معشوق تو هم ذات تست ** وین برونیها همه آفات تست
- Prudence is this, that when they (worldlings) invite you, you should not say, “They are enamoured and fond of me.” 230
- حزم آن باشد که چون دعوت کنند ** تو نگویی مست و خواهان منند
- Know that their invitation is (like) the bird's whistle which the fowler gives (while) concealed in (his) place of ambush:
- دعوت ایشان صفیر مرغ دان ** که کند صیاد در مکمن نهان
- He has put forward a dead bird, (pretending) that this (bird) is making this plaintive noise and cry.
- مرغ مرده پیش بنهاده که این ** میکند این بانگ و آواز و حنین
- The birds think he is one of their kind: they gather round, and he rends their skins—
- مرغ پندارد که جنس اوست او ** جمع آید بر دردشان پوست او
- Except, no doubt, the bird on which God has bestowed prudence, so that it may not be fooled by that bait and enticement.
- جز مگر مرغی که حزمش داد حق ** تا نگردد گیج آن دانه و ملق
- Imprudence is assuredly (attended by) repentance. Hear the following story in explanation of this. 235
- هست بی حزمی پشیمانی یقین ** بشنو این افسانه را در شرح این
- How the countryman deceived the townsman and invited him with humble entreaties and great importunity.
- فریفتن روستایی شهری را و بدعوت خواندن بلابه و الحاح بسیار
- In the past, O brother, there was a townsman (who was) intimate with a countryman.
- ای برادر بود اندر ما مضی ** شهریی با روستایی آشنا
- Whenever the countryman came to town, he would pitch his tent in the street of the townsman.
- روستایی چون سوی شهر آمدی ** خرگه اندر کوی آن شهری زدی
- He would be his guest for two or three months, he would be in his shop and at his table,
- دو مه و سه ماه مهمانش بدی ** بر دکان او و بر خوانش بدی
- And the townsman would provide, free of cost, everything that he wanted during that time.
- هر حوایج را که بودش آن زمان ** راست کردی مرد شهری رایگان
- (Once) he turned to the townsman and said, “Sire, are you never coming to the country for a holiday? 240
- رو به شهری کرد و گفت ای خواجه تو ** هیچ مینایی سوی ده فرجهجو