God bath said of the unrighteous Hypocrites, “Their valour amongst themselves is a great valour.
گفت حق ز اهل نفاق ناسدید ** باسهم ما بینهم باس شدید
Amongst one another they are manly, (but) in a warlike expedition they are as the women of the house.”
در میان همدگر مردانهاند ** در غزا چون عورتان خانهاند
The Prophet; the commander-in-chief of the things unseen, said, “There is no bravery, O youth, before the battles.”
گفت پیغامبر سپهدار غیوب ** لا شجاعة یا فتی قبل الحروب
The drunken make a froth when there is talk of war, (but) when war is raging they are as unskilled (useless) as froth.4005
وقت لاف غزو مستان کف کنند ** وقت جوش جنگ چون کف بیفنند
At the time when war is spoken Of, his (such a one’s) scimitar is long (drawn and extended); at the time of combat his sword is (sheathed) like an onion.
وقت ذکر غزو شمشیرش دراز ** وقت کر و فر تیغش چون پیاز
At the time of premeditation his heart is eager for wounds; then (in action) his bag is emptied (of air) by a single needle.
وقت اندیشه دل او زخمجو ** پس به یک سوزن تهی شد خیک او
I marvel at the seeker of purity who at the time of polishing shrinks from being handled roughly.
من عجب دارم ز جویای صفا ** کو رمد در وقت صیقل از جفا
Love is like the lawsuit; to suffer harsh treatment is (like) the evidence: when you have no evidence, the lawsuit is lost.
عشق چون دعوی جفا دیدن گواه ** چون گواهت نیست شد دعوی تباه
Do not be aggrieved when this Judge demands your evidence: kiss the snake in order that you may gain the treasure.4010
چون گواهت خواهد این قاضی مرنج ** بوسه ده بر مار تا یابی تو گنج
That harshness is not towards you, O son; nay, towards the evil qualities within you.
آن جفا با تو نباشد ای پسر ** بلک با وصف بدی اندر تو در
The blows of the stick with which a man beats a rug he inflicts, not on the rug, but on the dust (in the rug).
بر نمد چوبی که آن را مرد زد ** بر نمد آن را نزد بر گرد زد
If that vindictive fellow lashes the horse, he directs the blows, not at the horse, but at its stumbling,
گر بزد مر اسپ را آن کینه کش ** آن نزد بر اسپ زد بر سکسکش
In order that it may be delivered from (the vice of) stumbling and may move well: you imprison must (in the vat) in order that it may become wine.
تا ز سکسک وا رهد خوشپی شود ** شیره را زندان کنی تا میشود
He (some one) said, “Thou hast struck that little orphan so many blows: how wert not thou afraid of the Divine wrath?”4015
گفت چندان آن یتیمک را زدی ** چون نترسیدی ز قهر ایزدی
He (the striker) said, “O (dear) soul and friend, when did I strike him? I struck at the devil that is in him,”
گفت او را کی زدم ای جان و دوست ** من بر آن دیوی زدم کو اندروست
If your mother say to you, “Mayst thou die!” she wishes the death of that (evil) nature (of yours) and the death of iniquity.
مادر ار گوید ترا مرگ تو باد ** مرگ آن خو خواهد و مرگ فساد
The folk who fled from correction dishonoured’ their (own) manhood and (true) men.
آن گروهی کز ادب بگریختند ** آب مردی و آب مردان ریختند
The railers drove them back from the war, so that they remained so infamous and effeminate.
عاذلانشان از وغا وا راندند ** تا چنین حیز و مخنث ماندند
Do not thou hearken to the boasting and roaring of the driveller: do not go into the battle-line with such fellows.4020
لاف و غرهی ژاژخا را کم شنو ** با چنینها در صف هیجا مرو
Since they would have added to you (naught but) corruption, God said, “Turn the leaf (avert yourself) from pusillanimous comrades,
زانک زاد و کم خبالا گفت حق ** کز رفاق سست برگردان ورق
For if they go along with you, the warriors will become pith- less, like straw.
که گر ایشان با شما همره شوند ** غازیان بیمغز همچون که شوند
They put themselves in line with you (on the field of battle); then they flee and break the heart of the line.
خویشتن را با شما همصف کنند ** پس گریزند و دل صف بشکنند
Therefore, better a little army without these persons than (that) it should be mustered (reinforced) with the Hypocrites.”
پس سپاهی اندکی بی این نفر ** به که با اهل نفاق آید حشر
A few well-sifted almonds are better than a great many (sweet ones) mixed with bitter..4025
هست بادام کم خوش بیخته ** به ز بسیاری به تلخ آمیخته
The bitter and the sweet are one thing (alike) in respect of rattling (against each other, when poured out); the defect arises from their not being the same at heart.
تلخ و شیرین در ژغاژغ یک شیاند ** نقص از آن افتاد که همدل نیند