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4
1191-1215

  • When, (as happens) rarely, he becomes independent of (earning his) bread, he is in love with fame and the praise of poets,
  • چون بنادر گشت مستغنی ز نان ** عاشق نامست و مدح شاعران

  • In order that they may give fruit to (may adorn) his root and branch and may set up a pulpit to declare his excellence,
  • تا که اصل و فصل او را بر دهند ** در بیان فضل او منبر نهند

  • So that his pomp and magnificence and lavishing of gold may yield a perfume, like (that of) ambergris, in (their) song.
  • تا که کر و فر و زر بخشی او ** هم‌چو عنبر بو دهد در گفت و گو

  • God created us in His image: our qualities are instructed by (are modeled upon) His qualities.
  • خلق ما بر صورت خود کرد حق ** وصف ما از وصف او گیرد سبق

  • Inasmuch as the Creator desires thanksgiving and glorification, it is also the nature of man to desire praise, 1195
  • چونک آن خلاق شکر و حمدجوست ** آدمی را مدح‌جویی نیز خوست

  • Especially the man of God, who is active in (showing) excellence: he becomes filled with that wind (of praise), like an undamaged leathern bag;
  • خاصه مرد حق که در فضلست چست ** پر شود زان باد چون خیک درست

  • But if he (the recipient of praise) be not worthy, the bag is rent by that wind of falsehood: how should it receive lustre?
  • ور نباشد اهل زان باد دروغ ** خیک بدریدست کی گیرد فروغ

  • I have not invented this parable, O comrade: do not hear it (as though it were) silly, if thou art worthy and restored to thy senses.
  • این مثل از خود نگفتم ای رفیق ** سرسری مشنو چو اهلی و مفیق

  • The Prophet (Mohammed) said (something like) this, when he heard vituperation (from the infidels who asked), “Why is Ahmad (Mohammed) made fat (happy) by praise?”
  • این پیمبر گفت چون بشنید قدح ** که چرا فربه شود احمد به مدح

  • The poet went to the king and brought a poem in thanks (and praise) for (his) beneficence, saying that it (beneficence) never died. 1200
  • رفت شاعر پیش آن شاه و ببرد ** شعر اندر شکر احسان کان نمرد

  • The beneficent died, and (their) acts of beneficence remained: oh, blest is he that rode this steed!
  • محسنان مردند و احسانها بماند ** ای خنک آن را که این مرکب براند

  • The unjust died, and those acts of injustice remained: alas for the soul that practises deceit and fraud!
  • ظالمان مردند و ماند آن ظلمها ** وای جانی کو کند مکر و دها

  • The Prophet said, “Blest is he who departed from this world and left good deeds behind him.”
  • گفت پیغامبر خنک آن را که او ** شد ز دنیا ماند ازو فعل نکو

  • The beneficent man died, but his beneficence died not: with God, religion (piety) and beneficence are not of small account.
  • مرد محسن لیک احسانش نمرد ** نزد یزدان دین و احسان نیست خرد

  • Alas for him who died and whose disobedience (to God) died not: beware of thinking that by death he saved his soul (from punishment). 1205
  • وای آنکو مرد و عصیانش نمود ** تا نپنداری به مرگ او جان ببرد

  • Dismiss this (topic), for the poet is on the way—in debt and mightily in need of gold.
  • این رها کن زانک شاعر بر گذر ** وام‌دارست و قوی محتاج زر

  • The poet brought the poem to the king in hope of (receiving) last year's donation and benefit—
  • برد شاعر شعر سوی شهریار ** بر امید بخشش و احسان پار

  • A charming poem full of flawless pearls, in hope and expectation of the first (former) munificence.
  • نازنین شعری پر از در درست ** بر امید و بوی اکرام نخست

  • The Sháh indeed, according to his habit, ordered a thousand (dinars to be paid) to him, since such was the custom of that monarch;
  • شاه هم بر خوی خود گفتش هزار ** چون چنین بد عادت آن شهریار

  • But, on this occasion, the bountiful vizier had departed from the present life, (mounted) on the Buráq of glory, 1210
  • لیک این بار آن وزیر پر ز جود ** بر براق عز ز دنیا رفته بود

  • And in his place a new vizier had assumed authority; but (he was) very pitiless and mean.
  • بر مقام او وزیر نو رئیس ** گشته لیکن سخت بی‌رحم و خسیس

  • He said, “O king, we have (great) outlays: this donation is not the (fitting) reward for a poet.
  • گفت ای شه خرجها داریم ما ** شاعری را نبود این بخشش جزا

  • With a fortieth part of this (sum), O thou (whose favour is) eagerly sought, I will make the poet man happy and content.”
  • من به ربع عشر این ای مغتنم ** مرد شاعر را خوش و راضی کنم

  • The people said to him, “He carried away a sum of ten thousand (dinars) in ready money from this valiant (king).
  • خلق گفتندش که او از پیش‌دست ** ده هزاران زین دلاور برده است

  • After (having eaten) sugar, how should he chew (the empty) cane? After having been a sultan, how should he practise beggary?” 1215
  • بعد شکر کلک خایی چون کند ** بعد سلطانی گدایی چون کند