Haven't you heard that a certain sugar-lipped (story-teller) used to tell at nightfall of the perfidy of tailors,
تو بنشنیدی که آن پر قند لب ** غدر خیاطان همیگفتی به شب
Setting forth to the people old stories concerning the thievery of that class (of men)?
خلق را در دزدی آن طایفه ** مینمود افسانههای سالفه
To that one and this one he would relate tales of their snatching (stealing) pieces of cloth while cutting it,
قصهی پارهربایی در برین ** می حکایت کرد او با آن و این
And during the night-talk he would read aloud a book on (the tricks of) tailors, when a throng had gathered round him.
در سمر میخواند دزدینامهای ** گرد او جمع آمده هنگامهای
Since he found eager listeners among those who came (to hear him), all parts of him had become the story (that he was telling).1655
مستمع چون یافت جاذب زان وفود ** جمله اجزااش حکایت گشته بود
The Prophet, on whom be peace, said, ‘Verily God teaches wisdom by the tongues of the preachers according to the measure of the aspirations of those who hear them.’
قال النبی علیه السلام ان الله تعالی یلقن الحکمة علی لسان الواعظین بقدر همم المستمعین
If any one have suave eloquence, hearing draws it out: the teacher's enthusiasm and energy are (derived) from the boy (whom he teaches).
جذب سمعست ار کسی را خوش لبیست ** گرمی و جد معلم از صبیست
When the harpist who plays the four-and-twenty (musical modes) finds no ear (to listen), his harp becomes a burden;
چنگیی را کو نوازد بیست و چار ** چون نیابد گوش گردد چنگ بار
Neither ditty nor ode comes into his memory: his ten fingers will not get to work.
نه حراره یادش آید نه غزل ** نه ده انگشتش بجنبد در عمل
If there were no ears to receive (the message from) the Unseen, no announcer (prophet) would have brought a Revelation from Heaven;