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گفت اشتر چند داری چند گاو ** گفت نه این و نه آن ما را مکاو
- He asked, “How many camels have you? How many oxen?” “I have neither these nor those,” he replied: “do not dig at me.”
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گفت رختت چیست باری در دکان ** گفت ما را کو دکان و کو مکان 3190
- He said, “At any rate, what goods have you in your shop?” He answered, “Where have I a shop, and where a dwelling-place?”
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گفت پس از نقد پرسم نقد چند ** که تویی تنها رو و محبوب پند
- “Then,” said he, “I will ask about money. How much money (have you)?—for you are a solitary wanderer and one whose counsel is prized.
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کیمیای مس عالم با تو است ** عقل و دانش را گهر تو بر تو است
- With you is the elixir which changes the copper of the world (into) gold: your understanding and knowledge are inlaid with pearls.”
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گفت و الله نیست یا وجه العرب ** در همه ملکم وجوه قوت شب
- “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property there is not the means of (buying) food for the night.
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پا برهنه تن برهنه میدوم ** هر که نانی میدهد آن جا روم
- I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.
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مر مرا زین حکمت و فضل و هنر ** نیست حاصل جز خیال و درد سر 3195
- From this wisdom and learning and excellence (of mind) I have got nothing but phantasy and headache.”
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پس عرب گفتش که شو دور از برم ** تا نبارد شومی تو بر سرم
- Then the Arab said to him, “Begone far from my side, so that your ill-luck may not rain upon me.
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دور بر آن حکمت شومت ز من ** نطق تو شرم است بر اهل زمن
- Take far away from me that unlucky wisdom of yours: your speech is unlucky for (all) the people of the time.
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یا تو آن سو رو من این سو میدوم ** ور ترا ره پیش من واپس روم
- Either go you in that direction, and I will run in this direction; or if your way be forwards, I will go back.