Ere the stock-in-trade should go out of my hands and finally come forth (be exposed) as defective.
پیش از آن کز دست سرمایه شدی ** عاقبت معیوب بیرون آمدی
My wealth was (all but) gone, my life was (all but) gone, O man of noble lineage: I had (all but) given away my wealth and life for damaged goods.
مال رفته عمر رفته ای نسیب ** ماه و جان داده پی کاله‌ی معیب
I sold my merchandise, I received base gold: I was going home in great jubilation.1510
رخت دادم زر قلبی بستدم ** شاد شادان سوی خانه می‌شدم
Thanks (to God) that this gold was shown to be base now, before too much of my life had passed.
شکر کین زر قلب پیدا شد کنون ** پیش از آنک عمر بگذشتی فزون
The base coin would have remained (as a shackle) on my neck for ever: to waste my life (thus) would have been an iniquity.
قلب ماندی تا ابد در گردنم ** حیف بودی عمر ضایع کردنم
Since its (the coin's) baseness has been revealed earlier (in good time), I will step back from it very quickly.”
چون بگه‌تر قلبی او رو نمود ** پای خود زو وا کشم من زود زود
When your friend displays enmity (and when) the itch of his hatred and jealousy shoots forth (manifests itself),
یار تو چون دشمنی پیدا کند ** گر حقد و رشک او بیرون زند
Do not bewail his aversion, do not make yourself (do not let yourself behave as) a fool and ignoramus;1515
تو از آن اعراض او افغان مکن ** خویشتن را ابله و نادان مکن
Nay, thank God and give bread (alms), (in gratitude) that you have not become old (and rotten) in his sack,
بلک شکر حق کن و نان بخش کن ** که نگشتی در جوال او کهن
(But) have quickly come out of his sack to seek the true Eternal Friend,
از جوالش زود بیرون آمدی ** تا بجویی یار صدق سرمدی
The delectable Friend whose friendship's cord becomes threefold (thrice as strong) after thy death.
نازنین یاری که بعد از مرگ تو ** رشته‌ی یاری او گردد سه تو
That friend, in sooth, may be the (Divine) Sultan and exalted King, or he may be one accepted of the Sultan and one who intercedes (with Him).
آن مگر سلطان بود شاه رفیع ** یا بود مقبول سلطان و شفیع
You are (now) delivered from the false coiner and (his) hypocrisy and fraud: you have seen his tumour (imposture) plainly before death.1520
رستی از قلاب و سالوس و دغل ** غر او دیدی عیان پیش از اجل
If you understood (aright) this injustice shown towards you by the people in the world, it is a hidden treasure of gold.
این جفای خلق با تو در جهان ** گر بدانی گنج زر آمد نهان
The people are made to be thus evil-natured towards you, that your face may inevitably be turned Yonder.
خلق را با تو چنین بدخو کنند ** تا ترا ناچار رو آن سو کنند
Know this for sure that in the end all of them will become adversaries and foes and rebels.
این یقین دان که در آخر جمله‌شان ** خصم گردند و عدو و سرکشان
You will be left in the tomb, lamenting and beseeching the One (God), (and crying), “Do not leave me (here) alone!
تو بمانی با فغان اندر لحد ** لا تذرنی فرد خواهان از احد
O Thou whose harshness is better than the troth of the faithful, the honey (kindness) of the faithful is also from Thy bounty.”1525
ای جفاات به ز عهد وافیان ** هم ز داد تست شهد وافیان
Hearken to your own reason, O possessor of a granary, and commit your wheat to the earth of Allah,
بشنو از عقل خود ای انباردار ** گندم خود را به ارض الله سپار
That it may be safe from thieves and weevils. Kill the Devil with the wood-fretter (of reason) as quickly as possible;
تا شود آمن ز دزد و از شپش ** دیو را با دیوچه زوتر بکش
For he is always frightening you with (the threat of) poverty: make him your prey like a partridge, O valiant hawk.
کو همی ترساندت هم دم ز فقر ** هم‌چو کبکش صید کن ای نره صقر
It would be a shame for the falcon of the mighty and fortunate Sultan to be made a prey by the partridge.
باز سلطان عزیزی کامیار ** ننگ باشد که کند کبکش شکار
He (the father) gave many injunctions (to his sons) and sowed the seed of exhortation, (but) as their soil was nitrous (barren), ’twas of no avail.1530
بس وصیت کرد و تخم وعظ کاشت ** چون زمین‌شان شوره بد سودی نداشت
Although the admonisher have a hundred appeals, counsel demands a retentive ear.
گرچه ناصح را بود صد داعیه ** پند را اذنی بباید واعیه