Since you have heard some of the (excellent) qualities of Bilál, now hear the story of the emaciation of Hilál.
چون شنیدی بعضی اوصاف بلال ** بشنو اکنون قصه‌ی ضعف هلال
He was more advanced than Bilál in the Way (to God): he had mortified his evil nature more.
از بلال او بیش بود اندر روش ** خوی بد را بیش کرده بد کشش
(He was) not a backslider like you, for at every moment you are farther back: you are moving away from the state of the (precious) pearl towards the state of the (worthless) stone.
نه چو تو پس‌رو که هر دم پس‌تری ** سوی سنگی می‌روی از گوهری
’Tis like the case of the guest who came to a certain Khwája: the Khwája inquired concerning his days and years.
آن‌چنان کان خواجه را مهمان رسید ** خواجه از ایام و سالش بر رسید
He asked, “How many years hast thou lived, my lad? Say (it) out and don't hide (it) away but count up (correctly).”1115
گفت عمرت چند سالست ای پسر ** بازگو و در مدزد و بر شمر
He replied, “Eighteen, seventeen, or sixteen, or fifteen, O adoptive brother.”
گفت هجده هفده یا خود شانزده ** یا که پانزده ای برادرخوانده
“(Go) backward, backward,” said he, “O giddy-headed one”; “keep going back usque ad cunnum matris tuae!” [“(Go) backward, backward,” said he, “O giddy-headed one”; “keep going back until (you return to) your mother’s vagina!”]
گفت واپس واپس ای خیره سرت ** باز می‌رو تا بکس مادرت
Story in exposition of the same topic.
حکایت در تقریر همین سخن
A certain man begged an Amír to give him a horse: he said, “Go and take that grey horse.”
آن یکی اسپی طلب کرد از امیر ** گفت رو آن اسپ اشهب را بگیر
He replied, “I don't want that one.” “Why not?” he asked. “It goes backward and is very restive,” said he;
گفت آن را من نخواهم گفت چون ** گفت او واپس‌روست و بس حرون
“It goes back, back very hard in the direction of its rump.” He replied, “Turn its tail towards home!”1120
سخت پس پس می‌رود او سوی بن ** گفت دمش را به سوی خانه کن