Since the two eyes of an ox are (rated) as one eye (of a man) in (the case of) damages for (their) destruction—for it (the ox) hath no excellence—
چون دو چشم گاو در جرم تلف ** همچو یک چشمست کش نبود شرف
Its two eyes are worth (only) a half of its value, inasmuch as thine eye is the support for its two eyes.
نصف قیمت ارزد آن دو چشم او ** که دو چشمش راست مسند چشم تو
But if thou destroy one eye of a son of Adam, by a statute (of the Law) thou must pay half of his value,
ور کنی یک چشم آدمزادهای ** نصف قیمت لایقست از جادهای
Because the human eye works alone by itself without (assistance from) the two eyes of a friend.
زانک چشم آدمی تنها به خود ** بی دو چشم یار کاری میکند
Since (the power of) the donkey's eye (to see) the beginning is not accompanied by (power to see) the end, it (the donkey) is in the same case as the one-eyed man, (even) if it has two eyes.1715
چشم خر چون اولش بی آخرست ** گر دو چشمش هست حکمش اعورست
This topic hath no limit—and that light-minded (foolish) one is writing a letter in hope of loaves.
این سخن پایان ندارد وان خفیف ** مینویسد رقعه در طمع رغیف
The rest of the story of the slave’s writing a petition for his allowance.
بقیهی نوشتن آن غلام رقعه به طلب اجری
Before (writing) the letter he went to the kitchen-stewerd and said, “O niggard of the kitchen of the generous king,
رفت پیش از نامه پیش مطبخی ** کای بخیل از مطبخ شاه سخی
‘Tis far from him and from his magnanimity that this (small) amount (matter) of my allowance should come into his consideration.”
دور ازو وز همت او کین قدر ** از جریام آیدش اندر نظر
He (the steward) said, “He has ordered (so) for a good object, not on account of stinginess or close-fistedness.”
گفت بهر مصلحت فرموده است ** نه برای بخل و نه تنگی دست
“By God,” he replied, “this is a canard: even old gold is as dust in the king’s eyes.”1720
گفت دهلیزیست والله این سخن ** پیش شه خاکست هم زر کهن
The steward raised up manifold arguments: he rejected them all because of the greed which he had (in him).
مطبخی ده گونه حجت بر فراشت ** او همه رد کرد از حرصی که داشت
When, at the time of the forenoon meal, his (usual) allowance was reduced, he uttered much revilement, (but) it was of no avail.
چون جری کم آمدش در وقت چاشت ** زد بسی تشنیع او سودی نداشت
He said, “Ye are doing these things on purpose.” “Nay,” said the other, “we obey the (royal) command.
گفت قاصد میکنید اینها شما ** گفت نه که بنده فرمانیم ما
Do not regard this (as proceeding) from the branch (sub ordinate): regard it (as proceeding) from the root (principal); do not strike at the bow, for the arrow is (really) from the arm.
این مگیر از فرع این از اصل گیر ** بر کمان کم زن که از بازوست تیر
(The words) thou didst not throw when thou threwest are a trial (of men’s understandings): do not lay the fault on the Prophet, for that (throwing) is (an act which proceeded) from God.1725
ما رمیت اذ رمیت ابتلاست ** بر نبی کم نه گنه کان از خداست
The water is turbid from the source: O thou who art angry in vain, look farther on, open thine eye once!”
آب از سر تیره است ای خیرهخشم ** پیشتر بنگر یکی بگشای چشم
(Moved) by anger and resentment he went into a certain place and wrote an angry letter to the king.
شد ز خشم و غم درون بقعهای ** سوی شه بنوشت خشمین رقعهای
In that letter he lauded the king and threaded the pearl of (descanted e on) the king’s munificence and generosity,
اندر آن رقعه ثنای شاه گفت ** گوهر جود و سخای شاه سفت
Saying, “O thou whose hand exceeds the sea and the clouds in (liberally) fulfilling the want of the suitor,
کای ز بحر و ابر افزون کف تو ** در قضای حاجت حاجاتجو
Because that which the cloud gives, it gives with tears, (while) thy hand incessantly lays the dish (of bounty) with smiles.”1730
Though the outward form of the letter was praise, from (amidst) the praise the scent of anger was showing traces (betraying itself).
ظاهر رقعه اگر چه مدح بود ** بوی خشم از مدح اثرها مینمود
All your actions are devoid of light and ugly because you are far, far from the light of your original nature.
زان همه کار تو بینورست و زشت ** که تو دوری دور از نور سرشت
The splendour of the actions of the vile becomes unsaleable (fades away), just as fresh fruit soon becomes rotten.
رونق کار خسان کاسد شود ** همچو میوهی تازه زو فاسد شود
The splendour of the present life soon produces unsaleableness (becomes of no account), inasmuch as it belongs to the world of generation and corruption.
رونق دنیا برآرد زو کساد ** زانک هست از عالم کون و فساد
Breasts are not gladdened by an encomium when there are feelings of enmity in the encomiast.1735
خوش نگردد از مدیحی سینهها ** چونک در مداح باشد کینهها