When Death pulls his ear and makes him start up from slumber, then he falls to mocking at his fears.
چون ز خوابش بر جهاند گوشکش ** پس ز ترس خویش تسخر آیدش
Even such (is) the trembling of these learned scholars who have the intelligence and knowledge of this world.
همچنان لرزانی این عالمان ** که بودشان عقل و علم این جهان
On account of these accomplished (and) intelligent men, God said in the Qur’án, They do not know.
از پی این عاقلان ذو فنون ** گفت ایزد در نبی لا یعلمون
Each (of them) is afraid of some one's stealing (his time): he fancies that he possesses a great deal of knowledge.
هر یکی ترسان ز دزدی کسی ** خویشتن را علم پندارد بسی
He says, “They are wasting my time,” (but) in truth he has no time that is profitable.2645
گوید او که روزگارم میبرند ** خود ندارد روزگار سودمند
He says, “The people have taken me away from my work,” (but) his soul is plunged in idleness up to the throat.
گوید از کارم بر آوردند خلق ** غرق بیکاریست جانش تابه حلق
(Like) the naked man (he) is frightened and says, “I am trailing a (long) skirt: how shall I save my skirt from their clutches?”
عور ترسان که منم دامن کشان ** چون رهانم دامن از چنگالشان
He knows a hundred thousand superfluous matters connected with the (various) sciences, (but) that unjust man does not know his own soul.
صد هزاران فضل داند از علوم ** جان خود را مینداند آن ظلوم
He knows the special properties of every substance, (but) in elucidating his own substance (essence) he is (as ignorant) as an ass,
داند او خاصیت هر جوهری ** در بیان جوهر خود چون خری
Saying, “I know (what is) permissible and unpermissible.” Thou knowest not whether thou thyself art permissible or (unpermissible as) an old woman.2650
که همیدانم یجوز و لایجوز ** خود ندانی تو یجوزی یا عجوز