What should he know about enjoining (others) to do right? He is currishly seeking notoriety and fame,
او چه داند امر معروف از سگی ** طالب معروفی است و شهرگی
In order that by means of this hypocrisy he may make a position for himself and somehow make himself conspicuous;
تا بدین سالوس خود را جا کند ** تا به چیزی خویشتن پیدا کند
For in truth he has no talent save this alone, that he plays the hypocrite to all and sundry.
کو ندارد خود هنر الا همان ** که تسلس می‌کند با این و آن
If he is mad and bent on mischief, the cure for a madman is an ox-hide whip, [If he is mad and bent on mischief, the cure for a madman is a whip (made from) an ox’s penis,]3500
او اگر دیوانه است و فتنه‌کاو ** داروی دیوانه باشد کیر گاو
So that the devil may go forth from his head: how should an ass go (forward) without the ass-drivers' blows?”
تا که شیطان از سرش بیرون رود ** بی‌لت خربندگان خر چون رود
The Amír dashed out, with a mace in his hand: at midnight he came, half intoxicated, to the ascetic.
In his rage he wished to kill the ascetic, (but) the ascetic hid beneath (some) wool.
خواست کشتن مرد زاهد را ز خشم ** مرد زاهد گشت پنهان زیر پشم
The ascetic, hidden under the wool belonging to certain rope-makers, heard that (threat) from the Amír.
مرد زاهد می‌شنید از میر آن ** زیر پشم آن رسن‌تابان نهان
He said (to himself), “(Only) the mirror that has made its face hard can tell a man to his face that he is ugly.3505
گفت در رو گفتن زشتی مرد ** آینه تاند که رو را سخت کرد
It needs a steel face, like a mirror, to say to thee, ‘Behold thy ugly face.’”
روی باید آینه‌وار آهنین ** تات گوید روی زشت خود ببین
Story of Dalqak's checkmating the Sayyid, the Sháh of Tirmid.
حکایت مات کردن دلقک سید شاه ترمد را
The Sháh was playing chess with Dalqak: he (Dalqak) checkmated him: immediately the Sháh's anger burst out.
شاه با دلقک همی شطرنج باخت ** مات کردش زود خشم شه بتاخت
He (Dalqak) cried, “Checkmate, checkmate!” and the haughty monarch threw the chessmen, one by one, at his head,
گفت شه شه و آن شه کبرآورش ** یک یک از شطرنج می‌زد بر سرش
Saying, “Take (it)! Here is ‘checkmate’ for you, O scoundrel.” Dalqak restrained himself and (only) said, “Mercy!”
که بگیر اینک شهت ای قلتبان ** صبر کرد آن دلقک و گفت الامان
The Prince commanded him to play a second game: he (Dalqak) was trembling like a naked man in bitter cold.3510
دست دیگر باختن فرمود میر ** او چنان لرزان که عور از زمهریر
He played the second game, and the Sháh was defeated: (when) the time and moment for saying “checkmate, checkmate” arrived,
باخت دست دیگر و شه مات شد ** وقت شه شه گفتن و میقات شد
Dalqak jumped up and ran into a corner and in his fear hastily flung six rugs over himself.
بر جهید آن دلقک و در کنج رفت ** شش نمد بر خود فکند از بیم تفت
(There) he lay hidden beneath (several) cushions and six rugs, that he might escape from the Sháh's blows.
زیر بالشها و زیر شش نمد ** خفت پنهان تا ز زخم شه رهد
The Sháh exclaimed, “Hi, hi! what have you done? What is this?” He replied, “Checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, O excellent Sháh!
گفت شه هی هی چه کردی چیست این ** گفت شه شه شه شه ای شاه گزین
How can one tell the truth to thee except under cover, O wrathful man who art wrapped in fire,3515
کی توان حق گفت جز زیر لحاف ** با تو ای خشم‌آور آتش‌سجاف
O thou who art defeated (by me), while I, defeated by thy Majesty's blows, am crying ‘checkmate, checkmate’ under thy house-furnishings?”
ای تو مات و من ز زخم شاه مات ** می‌زنم شه شه به زیر رختهات
When the (whole) quarter became filled with the furious shouts of the Amír and his kicking the (ascetic's) door and holding and seizing,
چون محله پر شد از هیهای میر ** وز لگد بر در زدن وز دار و گیر
The people quickly rushed out from left and right, crying, “O Prince, ’tis the hour for pardon and grace.
خلق بیرون جست زود از چپ و راست ** کای مقدم وقت عفوست و رضاست
His brain is dry, and at this time his intelligence is inferior to the intelligence and understanding of children.
مغز او خشکست و عقلش این زمان ** کمترست از عقل و فهم کودکان
Asceticism and old age have come on the top of each other, and no (spiritual) revelation has been given to him in his asceticism.3520
زهد و پیری ضعف بر ضعف آمده ** واندر آن زهدش گشادی ناشده
He has suffered the pain but never seen the gain (that comes) from the Beloved: he has done (many) works (of devotion) but never seen the wages for his work.
رنج دیده گنج نادیده ز یار ** کارها کرده ندیده مزد کار