“I know,” said he, “whence his illness arises: when you know the cause (of a disease), the (means of) curing (it) is manifest.
گفت من رنجش همی دانم ز چیست ** چون سبب دانی دوا کردن جلیست
When the cause is unknown, the remedy for the illness is difficult (to find), and in that (case) there are a hundred grounds to which it may be referred;
چون سبب معلوم نبود مشکلست ** داروی رنج و در آن صد محملست
(But) when you have ascertained the cause, it becomes easy: knowledge of causes is the means of expelling ignorance.”
چون بدانستی سبب را سهل شد ** دانش اسباب دفع جهل شد
He said to himself, “The smell of that dog's dung is multiplied in his brain and veins.
گفت با خود هستش اندر مغز و رگ ** توی بر تو بوی آن سرگین سگ
Up to the waist in filth, he is absorbed in the tanner's craft till nightfall, seeking his livelihood.275
تا میان اندر حدث او تا به شب ** غرق دباغیست او روزی‌طلب
Thus then has the great Jálínús (Galen) said: ‘Give the patient that to which he was habituated (before his illness);
پس چنین گفتست جالینوس مه ** آنچ عادت داشت بیمار آنش ده
For his illness arises from doing the contrary to (his usual) habit: therefore seek the remedy for his illness in that which is habitual (to him).’
کز خلاف عادتست آن رنج او ** پس دوای رنجش از معتاد جو
He (the tanner), from carrying dung, has become like the dung-beetle: the dung-beetle is made insensible by rose-water.
چون جعل گشتست از سرگین‌کشی ** از گلاب آید جعل را بیهشی
The remedy for him consists in that same dog's dung to which he is habituated and accustomed.”
هم از آن سرگین سگ داروی اوست ** که بدان او را همی معتاد و خوست
Recite (the text), the wicked women for the wicked men: recognise (both) the front and the back of this saying.280
الخبیثات الخبیثین را بخوان ** رو و پشت این سخن را باز دان
The sincere mentors prepare medicine for him (the wicked man) with ambergris or rose-water to open the door (of Divine Mercy);
ناصحان او را به عنبر یا گلاب ** می دوا سازند بهر فتح باب
(But) sweet words will not do for the wicked: ’tis not fitting and suitable, O ye trusty ones!
مر خبیثان را نسازد طیبات ** درخور و لایق نباشد ای ثقات
When from the perfume of the Revelation they (the wicked infidels) became crooked (disordered in mind) and lost (in error), their lament was, “We augur evil from you.
چون زعطر وحی کژ گشتند و گم ** بد فغانشان که تطیرنا بکم
This discourse (of yours) is illness and sickness to us: your exhortation is not of good omen to us.
رنج و بیماریست ما را این مقال ** نیست نیکو وعظتان ما را به فال
If ye once begin to admonish (us) overtly, at that instant we will stone you.285
گر بیاغازید نصحی آشکار ** ما کنیم آن دم شما را سنگسار
We have waxed fat on frivolity and diversion: we have not steeped ourselves in admonition.
ما بلغو و لهو فربه گشته‌ایم ** در نصیحت خویش را نسرشته‌ایم
Our food is falsehood and idle boasts and jests: our stomachs are turned by your delivering this message.
هست قوت ما دروغ و لاف و لاغ ** شورش معده‌ست ما را زین بلاغ
Ye are making the illness hundredfold and more: ye are drugging the intelligence with opium.”
رنج را صدتو و افزون می‌کنید ** عقل را دارو به افیون می‌کنید
How the tanner’s brother sought to cure him secretly with the smell of dung.
معالجه کردن برادر دباغ دباغ را به خفیه به بوی سرگین
The youth kept driving the people away from him (the tanner), in order that those persons might not see his treatment (of the sick man).
خلق را می‌راند از وی آن جوان ** تا علاجش را نبینند آن کسان
He brought his head (close) to his ear, like one telling a secret; then he put the thing (which he had in his hand) to his (the tanner’s) nose;290
سر به گوشش برد هم‌چون رازگو ** پس نهاد آن چیز بر بینی او
For he had rubbed the dog’s dung on his palm: he had deemed it (to be) the remedy for the polluted brain.
کو به کف سرگین سگ ساییده بود ** داروی مغز پلید آن دیده بود
A short while passed: the man began to move: the people said, “This was a wonderful charm;
ساعتی شد مرد جنبیدن گرفت ** خلق گفتند این فسونی بد شگفت
For this (youth) recited charms and breathed (them) into his ear: he was dead: the charms came to succour him.”
کین بخواند افسون به گوش او دمید ** مرده بود افسون به فریادش رسید
The movement of iniquitous folk is to the quarter in which there is fornication and ogling glances and eyebrows.
جنبش اهل فساد آن سو بود ** که زنا و غمزه و ابرو بود
Any one to whom the musk, admonition, is of no use must necessarily make himself familiar with the bad smell.295
هر کرا مشک نصیحت سود نیست ** لا جرم با بوی بد خو کردنیست