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