- From the pure souls and intelligences there is coming to the spirit a letter, saying, ‘O faithless one,
- از عقول و از نفوس پر صفا ** نامه میآید به جان کای بیوفا
- Thou hast found (some) miserable five-day friends and hast turned thy face away from thy friends of old.’
- یارکان پنج روزه یافتی ** رو ز یاران کهن بر تافتی
- Although the children are happy in their play, (yet) at nightfall they are dragged off and taken home.
- کودکان گرچه که در بازی خوشند ** شب کشانشان سوی خانه میکشند
- At play-time the little child strips: suddenly the thief carries off his coat and shoes.
- شد برهنه وقت بازی طفل خرد ** دزد از ناگه قبا و کفش برد
- He is so hotly engaged in play that his cap and shirt are forgotten. 455
- آن چنان گرم او به بازی در فتاد ** کان کلاه و پیرهن رفتش ز یاد
- Night falls, and his play becomes helpless (impossible): he has not the face to go home.
- شد شب و بازی او شد بیمدد ** رو ندارد کو سوی خانه رود
- Have not you heard (the Verse) the present life is only a play? You have squandered your goods and have become afraid.
- نی شنیدی انما الدنیا لعب ** باد دادی رخت و گشتی مرتعب
- Look for your clothes ere night comes on: do not waste the day in (idle) talk.
- پیش از آنک شب شود جامه بجو ** روز را ضایع مکن در گفت و گو
- I have chosen a (place of) seclusion in the desert: I have perceived that manking are stealers of clothes.
- من به صحرا خلوتی بگزیدهام ** خلق را من دزد جامه دیدهام
- Half of life (is lost) in desire for a charming friend; (the other) half of life (is lost) in anxieties caused by foes. 460
- نیم عمر از آرزوی دلستان ** نیم عمر از غصههای دشمنان
- That (desire) has carried off (our) cloak, this (anxiety) has carried off (our) cap, (while) we have become absorbed in play, like a little child.
- جبه را برد آن کله را این ببرد ** غرق بازی گشته ما چون طفل خرد
- Lo, the night-time of death is near. Leave this play: you have (played) enough, do not return (to it).
- نک شبانگاه اجل نزدیک شد ** خل هذا اللعب به سبک لاتعد
- Hark, mount (the steed of) repentance, overtake the thief, and recover your clothes from him.
- هین سوار توبه شود در دزد رس ** جامهها از دزد بستان باز پس
- The steed of repentance is a marvellous steed: in one moment it runs from below up to heaven.
- مرکب توبه عجاب مرکبست ** بر فلک تازد به یک لحظه ز پست
- But always keep the steed (safe) from him who secretly stole your coat. 465
- لیک مرکب را نگه میدار از آن ** کو بدزدید آن قبایت را نهان
- Lest he steal your steed also, keep watch over this steed of yours incessantly.”
- تا ندزدد مرکبت را نیز هم ** پاس دار این مرکبت را دم به دم
- Story of the person whose ram was stolen by some thieves. Not content with that, they stole his clothes too by means of a trick.
- حکایت آن شخص کی دزدان قوج او را بدزدیدند و بر آن قناعت نکرد به حیله جامههاش را هم دزدیدند
- A certain man had a ram (which) he was leading along behind him: a thief carried off the ram, having cut its halter.
- آن یکی قج داشت از پس میکشید ** دزد قج را برد حبلش را برید
- As soon as he (the owner) noticed, he began to run to left and right, that he might find out where the stolen ram was.
- چونک آگه شد دوان شد چپ و راست ** تا بیابد کان قج برده کجاست
- Beside a well he saw the thief crying, “Alas! Woe is me!”
- بر سر چاهی بدید آن دزد را ** که فغان میکرد کای واویلتا
- “O master,” said he, “why are you lamenting?” He replied, “My purse (full) of gold has fallen into the well. 470
- گفت نالان از چی ای اوستاد ** گفت همیان زرم در چه فتاد
- If you can go in and fetch it out, I will give you a fifth (of the money) with pleasure.
- گر توانی در روی بیرون کشی ** خمس بدهم مر ترا با دلخوشی
- You will receive the fifth part of a hundred dinars in your hand.” He (the owner of the ram) said (to himself), “Why, this is the price of ten rams.
- خمس صد دینار بستانی به دست ** گفت او خود این بهای ده قجست
- If one door is shut ten doors are opened: if a ram is gone, God gives a camel in compensation.”
- گر دری بر بسته شد ده در گشاد ** گر قجی شد حق عوض اشتر بداد
- He took off his clothes and went into the well: at once the thief carried away his clothes too.
- جامهها بر کند و اندر چاه رفت ** جامهها را برد هم آن دزد تفت
- A prudent man is needed to find the way to the village: (if) prudence be absent, cupidity brings calamity. 475
- حازمی باید که ره تا ده برد ** حزم نبود طمع طاعون آورد