- Ziyá-yi Dalq was a man of goodly inspiration: he was the brother of Táj, the Shaykh of Islam.
- آن ضیاء دلق خوش الهام بود ** دادر آن تاج شیخ اسلام بود
- Táj, the Shaykhu ’l-Islám of the imperial city of Balkh, was short of stature and small as a chick.
- تاج شیخ اسلام دار الملک بلخ ** بود کوتهقد و کوچک همچو فرخ
- Though he was learned and eminent and accomplished, (his brother) this Ziyá was superior in wit.
- گرچه فاضل بود و فحل و ذو فنون ** این ضیا اندر ظرافت بد فزون
- He (Táj) was very short, while Ziyá was tall beyond measure: the Shaykh of Islam had a hundred arrogances and haughty airs. 3475
- او بسی کوته ضیا بیحد دراز ** بود شیخ اسلام را صد کبر و ناز
- He felt ashamed of this brother and disgraced (by him); yet Ziyá was a preacher in the way of salvation.
- زین برادر عار و ننگش آمدی ** آن ضیا هم واعظی بد با هدی
- On the day of congregation Ziyá came in: the hall was filled with cadis and men distinguished (for piety).
- روز محفل اندر آمد آن ضیا ** بارگه پر قاضیان و اصفیا
- In his complete arrogance the Shaykh of Islam (only) half rose (from his seat), in such a (careless) fashion, to (salute) his brother.
- کرد شیخ اسلام از کبر تمام ** این برادر را چنین نصف القیام
- He (Ziyá) said to him, “Thou art very tall: take a little off thy cypress-like stature in order to gain the (Divine) reward.”
- گفت او را بس درازی بهر مزد ** اندکی زان قد سروت هم بدزد
- (The ascetic said), “How, then, have you the intelligence, how have you the (necessary) understanding to drink wine, O enemy of knowledge? 3480
- پس ترا خود هوش کو یا عقل کو ** تا خوری می ای تو دانش را عدو
- (If) your face is very beautiful, put some indigo on it (as an ornament); (but) indigo on the face of an Abyssinian (negro) would be a laughing-stock.
- روت بس زیباست نیلی هم بکش ** ضحکه باشد نیل بر روی حبش
- When did any (spiritual) light enter into you, O misguided man, that you should become a seeker of unconsciousness and darkness?
- در تو نوری کی درآمد ای غوی ** تا تو بیهوشی و ظلمتجو شوی
- ’Tis the (approved) rule to seek the shadow during the day; (but) you seek the shadow on a cloudy night.
- سایه در روزست جستن قاعده ** در شب ابری تو سایهجو شده
- If it (wine) is lawful as sustenance for the common folk, (yet) it is unlawful to those who seek the Beloved.
- گر حلال آمد پی قوت عوام ** طالبان دوست را آمد حرام
- The wine for the lovers (of God) is their heart's blood: their eyes are (fixed) upon the Way and upon the Destination. 3485
- عاشقان را باده خون دل بود ** چشمشان بر راه و بر منزل بود
- In this Way across the terrible wilderness the guide, Reason, suffers a hundred eclipses.
- در چنین راه بیابان مخوف ** این قلاوز خرد با صد کسوف
- (If) you throw dust in the eyes of the guides, you will cause the caravan to perish and lose the way.
- خاک در چشم قلاوزان زنی ** کاروان را هالک و گمره کنی
- In sooth, barley bread is unlawful and injurious to the carnal soul: set (only) bread made of bran before it.
- نان جو حقا حرامست و فسوس ** نفس را در پیش نه نان سبوس
- Keep in abject submission the enemy on the Way to God: do not place a pulpit for the robber, (but) keep him on the gibbet.
- دشمن راه خدا را خوار دار ** دزد را منبر منه بر دار دار
- Deem the amputation of the robber's hand desirable: if you are unable to cut his hand off, bind it. 3490
- دزد را تو دست ببریدن پسند ** از بریدن عاجزی دستش ببند
- Unless you bind his hand, he will bind yours; unless you break his leg, he will break yours.
- گر نبندی دست او دست تو بست ** گر تو پایش نشکنی پایت شکست
- You give the enemy wine and sugar-cane—for what reason? Bid him laugh venomously and eat earth.”
- تو عدو را می دهی و نیشکر ** بهر چه گو زهر خند و خاک خور
- In his indignation he (the ascetic) hurled a stone at the jug and broke it: he (the slave) let the jug fall and sprang away from the ascetic.
- زد ز غیرت بر سبو سنگ و شکست ** او سبو انداخت و از زاهد بجست
- He went to the Amír, who said to him, “Where is the wine?” He (the slave) related in his presence all that had happened, point by point.
- رفت پیش میر و گفتش باده کو ** ماجرا را گفت یک یک پیش او
- How the enraged Amír set out to punish the ascetic.
- رفتن امیر خشمآلود برای گوشمال زاهد
- The Amír became like fire and jumped straight up. “Show me,” he cried, “where the ascetic's house is, 3495
- میر چون آتش شد و برجست راست ** گفت بنما خانهی زاهد کجاست
- That I may pound his head with this heavy club—his ignorant whoreson head.
- تا بدین گرز گران کوبم سرش ** آن سر بیدانش مادرغرش