- 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
- Bring all your children, (I beg you) in God's name, for this is the time of the rose-garden and the springtide;
- الله الله جمله فرزندان بیار ** کین زمان گلشنست و نوبهار
- Or come in summer, in the fruit-season, that I may brace my belt to do you service.
- یا بتابستان بیا وقت ثمر ** تا ببندم خدمتت را من کمر
- Bring your retinue and your children and kinsfolk, and stay in our village three or four months,
- خیل و فرزندان و قومت را بیار ** در ده ما باش سه ماه و چهار
- For in spring the countryside is pleasant; there are sown fields and lovely anemones.”
- که بهاران خطهی ده خوش بود ** کشتزار و لالهی دلکش بود
- The townsman was (always) putting him off with promises, until eight years had elapsed since the (first) promise (was given). 245
- وعده دادی شهری او را دفع حال ** تا بر آمد بعد وعده هشت سال
- Every year he (the countryman) would say, “When will you set out on the journey?—for the month of December is (already) come,”
- او بهر سالی همیگفتی که کی ** عزم خواهی کرد کامد ماه دی
- And he (the townsman) would make an excuse, saying, “This year we have a guest who has come from such and such a district;
- او بهانه ساختی کامسالمان ** از فلان خطه بیامد میهمان
- (But) next year I will run (down) to that part (of the country), if I can escape from the pressing affairs (which keep me at home).”
- سال دیگر گر توانم وا رهید ** از مهمات آن طرف خواهم دوید
- He (the countryman) said, “My family are (anxiously) expecting your children, O benefactor.”
- گفت هستند آن عیالم منتظر ** بهر فرزندان تو ای اهل بر
- Every year he was coming back, like the stork, to reside in the townsman's pavilion, 250
- باز هر سالی چو لکلک آمدی ** تا مقیم قبهی شهری شدی