They are vain, but they show me the right way because vanity attracts (only) the vain.
باطل‌اند و می‌نمایندم رشد ** زانک باطل باطلان را می‌کشد
Each one of the atoms on atoms which exist in this earth and heaven is like amber (a magnet) for its congener.2900
ذره ذره کاندرین ارض و سماست ** جنس خود را هر یکی چون کهرباست
The belly attracts bread to its resting-place; the heat of the liver attracts water.
معده نان را می‌کشد تا مستقر ** می‌کشد مر آب را تف جگر
The eye is an attractor of beautiful persons from these (different) quarters of the town; the brain (nose) is seeking (to attract) scents from the rose-garden,
Because the sense peculiar to the eye is an attractor of colour, while the brain and nose attract sweet perfumes.
زانک حس چشم آمد رنگ کش ** مغز و بینی می‌کشد بوهای خوش
O Lord who knowest the secret, do Thou preserve us from these attractions by the attraction of Thy grace!
زین کششها ای خدای رازدان ** تو به جذب لطف خودمان ده امان
Thou, O Purchaser, art dominant over (all) attractors: it would be fitting if Thou redeem the helpless.”2905
غالبی بر جاذبان ای مشتری ** شاید ار درماندگان را وا خری
He turned his face to the King as a thirsty man to a cloud— he who on the Night of Power was the Full-moon's own.
رو به شه آورد چون تشنه به ابر ** آنک بود اندر شب قدر آن بدر
Since his tongue and his spirit were His (the King's), (he was not afraid, for) he who is His may converse with Him boldly.
چون لسان وجان او بود آن او ** آن او با او بود گستاخ‌گو
He said, “We have been bound (in chains) like the spirit in its prison of clay: Thou art the Sun (illuminator) of the spirit on the Day of Judgement.
گفت ما گشتیم چون جان بند طین ** آفتاب جان توی در یوم دین
O King whose course is concealed (from view), the time is come for Thee graciously to make a movement (sign) with Thy beard in clemency.
وقت آن شد ای شه مکتوم‌سیر ** کز کرم ریشی بجنبانی به خیر
Each one (of us) has displayed his specialty: all those talents have (only) increased (our) ill-fortune.2910
هر یکی خاصیت خود را نمود ** آن هنرها جمله بدبختی فزود
Those talents have bound our necks, by those high attainments we are (thrown) headlong and (laid) low.
آن هنرها گردن ما را ببست ** زان مناصب سرنگوساریم و پست
(Our) talent is a cord of palm-fibre on our neck: there is no help (to be gained) from those accomplishments on the day of death.”
آن هنر فی جیدنا حبل مسد ** روز مردن نیست زان فنها مدد
(None of them avails) save only the specialty of that man endowed with goodly perceptions whose eye was recognising the Sultan in the (darkness of) night.
جز همان خاصیت آن خوش‌حواس ** که به شب بد چشم او سلطان‌شناس
All those talents were (as) ghouls (waylaying travellers) on the road, except (that of) the eye which was aware of the King.
آن هنرها جمله غول راه بود ** غیر چشمی کو ز شه آگاه بود
On the day of audience the King was ashamed (to refuse the petition) of him whose gaze was (fixed) on the King's face at night.2915
شاه را شرم از وی آمد روز بار ** که به شب بر روی شه بودش نظار
And the dog that is acquainted with the loving King—even him you must entitle “the Dog of the Cave.”
وان سگ آگاه از شاه وداد ** خود سگ کهفش لقب باید نهاد
Excellent, too, is the specialty (residing) in the ear; for he (who possesses it) by (hearing) the bark of a dog is made aware of the Lion.
خاصیت در گوش هم نیکو بود ** کو به بانگ سگ ز شیر آگه شود
When the dog is awake during the night, like a watchman, he is not ignorant of the nightly vigil of the (spiritual) kings.
Hark, you must not disdain them that have a bad name: you must set your mind on their inward parts (spiritual qualities).
هین ز بدنامان نباید ننگ داشت ** هوش بر اسرارشان باید گماشت
Whoever has once got a bad name must not seek (to win) a (good) name and (thereby) become half-baked.2920
هر که او یک‌بار خود بدنام شد ** خود نباید نام جست و خام شد
Oh, many a (piece of) gold is made (like) black polished iron in order that it may be saved from pillage and calamity.
ای بسا زر که سیه‌تابش کنند ** تا شود آمن ز تاراج و گزند
Story of the sea-cow: how it brings up the royal pearl from the depths of the ocean and at night lays it on the seashore and feeds in the resplendence and lustre thereof; and how the trader comes forth from his hiding-place and, when the cow has gone some distance away from the pearl, covers the pearl with loam and black clay and runs off and climbs a tree; and so on to the end of the story and exposition.
قصه‌ی آنک گاو بحری گوهر کاویان از قعر دریا بر آورد شب بر ساحل دریا نهد در درخش و تاب آن می‌چرد بازرگان از کمین برون آید چون گاو از گوهر دورتر رفته باشد بازرگان به لجم و گل تیره گوهر را بپوشاند و بر درخت گریزد الی آخر القصه و التقریب
The water-cow fetches a pearl out of the sea, lays it on the meadow, and grazes around it.
گاو آبی گوهر از بحر آورد ** بنهد اندر مرج و گردش می‌چرد
In the radiance of the light of the pearl the water-cow feeds hurriedly on hyacinths and lilies.
در شعاع نور گوهر گاو آب ** می‌چرد از سنبل و سوسن شتاب