To go into a thousand fires is better than this, that a lord should become the servant of a slave.
در هزار آتش شدن زین خوشترست ** که خداوندی شود بنده‌پرست
Nay, kill me first, O king of China, that mine eye may not be hold this (servility) in the king.
نه بکش اول مرا ای شاه چین ** تا نبیند چشم من بر شاه این
O emperor, behead me first, that mine eye may not behold this ignominy.
خسروا اول مرا گردن بزن ** تا نبیند این مذلت چشم من
Truly never has there been—and never may there be!—such a thing as this, that the earth should become the sky, and the sky become the earth;
خود نبودست و مبادا این چنین ** که زمین گردون شود گردون زمین
(That) our slaves should become our fellow-servants, (and that) our timorous ones should become those who (cruelly) wound our hearts;2735
بندگان‌مان خواجه‌تاش ما شوند ** بی‌دلان‌مان دلخراش ما شوند
(That our) enemies (should be) bright-eyed and (our) friends blind: then (in that case) the rose-garden has become for us (like) the bottom of the tomb.”
چشم‌روشن دشمنان و دوست کور ** گشت ما را پس گلستان قعر گور
Showing the falsity of Hámán’s speech— the curse (of God) be upon him!
تزییف سخن هامان علیه‌اللعنه
He did not know friend from enemy: he was playing back gammon (all) wrong, like a blind man.
دوست از دشمن همی نشناخت او ** نرد را کورانه کژ می‌باخت او
Thy enemy is none but thyself, O accursed one: do not despitefully call the innocent (thy) enemies.
دشمن تو جز تو نبود این لعین ** بی‌گناهان را مگو دشمن به کین
In thy sight this evil state (in which thou art) is dawlat (worldly fortune), whereof the beginning is dawádaw (running to and fro) and the end lat (blows).
پیش تو این حالت بد دولتست ** که دوادو اول و آخر لتست
If by degrees thou do not run away from this worldly fortune, autumn will come o’er this spring of thine.2740
گر ازین دولت نتازی خز خزان ** این بهارت را همی آید خزان
East and West have seen many like thee, whose heads have been severed from their bodies.
مشرق و مغرب چو تو بس دیده‌اند ** که سر ایشان ز تن ببریده‌اند
After all, how should East and West, which are not permanent, make any one enduring?
مشرق و مغرب که نبود بر قرار ** چون کنند آخر کسی را پایدار
Thou takest pride in the fact that men, from fear and bondage, have become thy flatterers for a few days.
تو بدان فخر آوری کز ترس و بند ** چاپلوست گشت مردم روز چند
When men bow in adoration to any one, they are (really) cramming poison into his soul.
هر کرا مردم سجودی می‌کنند ** زهر اندر جان او می‌آکنند
When his adorer turns away from him, he knows that that (adoration) was poisonous and destructive to him.2745
چونک بر گردد ازو آن ساجدش ** داند او کان زهر بود و موبدش
Oh, blest is he whose carnal soul was abased! Alas who became like a mountain from arrogance
ای خنک آن را که ذلت نفسه ** وای آنک از سرکشی شد چون که او
Know that this pride is a killing poison: that fool toxicated by the poisonous wine.
این تکبر زهر قاتل دان که هست ** از می پر زهر شد آن گیج مست
When an unhappy wretch drinks the poisonous wine, his head in delight for one moment.
چون می پر زهر نوشد مدبری ** از طرب یکدم بجنباند سری
After one moment the poison falls on his spirit the poison exercises (complete) sway over his spirit.
بعد یکدم زهر بر جانش فتد ** زهر در جانش کند داد و ستد
If you have not firm belief in its being poisonous (and do not know) what (a deadly) poison it is, look at the people of ‘Ád.2750
گر نذاری زهری‌اش را اعتقاد ** کو چه زهر آمد نگر در قوم عاد
When one king gains the upper hand (prevails) over another. king, he kills him or confines him in a dungeon;
چونک شاهی دست یابد بر شهی ** بکشدش یا باز دارد در چهی
But if he find a fallen wounded man, the king will make a plaster for him and bestow gifts on him.
ور بیابد خسته‌ی افتاده را ** مرهمش سازد شه و بدهد عطا
If that pride is not poison, then why did he kill the (vanquished) king without (his having committed any) crime or offence?
گر نه زهرست آن تکبر پس چرا ** کشت شه را بی‌گناه و بی‌خطا
And how did he treat this other (helpless) man (so) kindly without (his having performed any) service? From these two actions you may recognise (the poisonous nature of) pride.
وین دگر را بی ز خدمت چون نواخت ** زین دو جنبش زهر را شاید شناخت
No highwayman ever attacked a beggar: does a wolf ever bite a dead wolf?2755
راه‌زن هرگز گدایی را نزد ** گرگ گرگ مرده را هرگز گزد