- Though you may learn Wisdom by rote, it becomes quit of you when you are unworthy (to receive it);
- گر چه حکمت را به تکرار آوری ** چون تو نااهلی شود از تو بری
- And though you write it and note it (down), and though you brag (about it) and expound it,
- ور چه بنویسی نشانش میکنی ** ور چه میلافی بیانش میکنی
- It withdraws its face from you, O disputatious one: it snaps its bonds and (takes) flight from you. 320
- او ز تو رو در کشد ای پر ستیز ** بندها را بگسلد وز تو گریز
- (But) if you read not and it sees your ardour (of love), Knowledge will be a bird docile (and obedient) to your hand.
- ور نخوانی و ببیند سوز تو ** علم باشد مرغ دستآموز تو
- It does not abide with every unskilled tiro: (it is) like a peacock (which does not stay) in the house of a peasant.
- او نپاید پیش هر نااوستا ** همچو طاوسی به خانهی روستا
- How the King found his falcon in the house of a decrepit old woman.
- یافتن پادشاه باز را به خانهی کمپیر زن
- Religion is not (like) the falcon that fled from the King to the old crone who was sifting flour
- دین نه آن باز است کاو از شه گریخت ** سوی آن کمپیر کاو میآرد بیخت
- That she might cook tutmáj for her children. (When) she saw the beautiful well-born falcon,
- تا که تتماجی پزد اولاد را ** دید آن باز خوش خوش زاد را
- She tied its little foot and clipped its wings; she cut its talons and fed it with straw. 325
- پایکش بست و پرش کوتاه کرد ** ناخنش ببرید و قوتش کاه کرد
- “Unworthy folk,” said she, “have not kept thee in (good) trim: thy wings are overgrown and thy talons have become long.
- گفت نااهلان نکردندت به ساز ** پر فزود از حد و ناخن شد دراز
- Every unworthy one's hand makes thee ill: come to thy mother that she may take care of thee.”
- دست هر نااهل بیمارت کند ** سوی مادر آ که تیمارت کند