O thou that bitest thy lip (in admiration) at the beauty of spring, look on the coldness and paleness of autumn.
ای ز خوبی بهاران لب گزان ** بنگر آن سردی و زردی خزان
In the daytime thou didst deem the countenance of the sun beauteous: remember its death in the moment of setting.
روز دیدی طلعت خورشید خوب ** مرگ او را یاد کن وقت غروب
Thou sawest the full-moon on this lovely firmament: observe also its anguish (caused by the loss of visibility) during the interlunar period.
بدر را دیدی برین خوش چار طاق ** حسرتش را هم ببین اندر محاق
A boy, on account of his beauty, became the lord of the people: after the morrow he became doting and exposed to the scorn of the people.
کودکی از حسن شد مولای خلق ** بعد فردا شد خرف رسوای خلق
If the body of those in the fresh bloom of youth has made thee a prey, after (it has come to) old age behold a body (bleached) like a cotton plantation.1600
گر تن سیمینتنان کردت شکار ** بعد پیری بین تنی چون پنبهزار
O thou who hast seen rich viands, arise and see the residue thereof in the latrine.
ای بدیده لوتهای چرب خیز ** فضلهی آن را ببین در آبریز
Say to the filth, “Where is that beauty of thine—the savour and goodliness and (sweet) scent (which thou hadst) in the dish?”
مر خبث را گو که آن خوبیت کو ** بر طبق آن ذوق و آن نغزی و بو
It replies, “That (beauty) was the bait: I was its trap: since thou hast fallen a prey (to it), the bait has become hidden.”
گوید او آن دانه بد من دام آن ** چون شدی تو صید شد دانه نهان
Many fingers that in handicraft (skill and dexterity) were the envy of master craftsmen have at last become trembling.
بس انامل رشک استادان شده ** در صناعت عاقبت لرزان شده
The soul-like intoxicating narcissus-eye (of the beloved)—see it dimmed at last and water trickling from it.1605
نرگس چشم خمار همچو جان ** آخر اعمش بین و آب از وی چکان
The lion (hero) who advances into the ranks of lions (valiant foes)—at last he is conquered by a mouse.
حیدری کاندر صف شیران رود ** آخر او مغلوب موشی میشود
The acute, far-seeing, artful genius—behold it at last imbecile as an old ass.
طبع تیز دوربین محترف ** چون خر پیرش ببین آخر خرف
The curly lock that sheds (a fragrance of) musk and takes away the reason—at last it is like the ugly white tail of a donkey.
زلف جعد مشکبار عقلبر ** آخرا چون دم زشت خنگ خر
Observe its (the World's) existence, (how) at first (it is) pleasing and joyous; and observe its shamefulness and corruption in the end;
خوش ببین کونش ز اول باگشاد ** وآخر آن رسواییش بین و فساد
For it showed the snare plainly: it plucked out the fool's moustache in thy presence.1610
زانک او بنمود پیدا دام را ** پیش تو بر کند سبلت خام را
Do not say, then, “The World deceived me by its imposture; otherwise, my reason would have fled from its snare.”
پس مگو دنیا به تزویرم فریفت ** ورنه عقل من ز دامش میگریخت
Come now, see (how) the golden collar and shoulder-belt have become a shackle and gyve and chain.
طوق زرین و حمایل بین هله ** غل و زنجیری شدست و سلسله
Reckon every particle of the World (to be) like this: bring its beginning and its end into consideration.
همچنین هر جزو عالم میشمر ** اول و آخر در آرش در نظر
The more any one regards the end (ákhir) the more blessed he is; the more any one regards the stable (ákhur) the more banned he is.
هر که آخربینتر او مسعودتر ** هر که آخربینتر او مطرودتر
Regard every one's face as the glorious moon: when the beginning has been seen, see the end (also),1615
روی هر یک چون مه فاخر ببین ** چونک اول دیده شد آخر ببین
Lest thou become a man blind of one eye, like Iblís: he, like a person docked (deprived of perfect sight), sees (the one) half and not (the other) half.
تا نباشی همچو ابلیس اعوری ** نیم بیند نیم نی چون ابتری
He saw the clay (tín) of Adam but did not see his obedience to God (dín): he saw in him this world but did not see that (spirit) which beholds yonder world.
دید طین آدم و دینش ندید ** این جهان دید آن جهانبینش ندید
The superiority of men to women, O valorous one, is not on account of strength and money-making and (the possession of) landed estates;
فضل مردان بر زنان ای بو شجاع ** نیست بهر قوت و کسب و ضیاع
Otherwise the lion and elephant because of (their) strength would be superior to the human being, O blind one.
ورنه شیر و پیل را بر آدمی ** فضل بودی بهر قوت ای عمی
The superiority of men to women, O time-server, is because man is more regardful of the end.1620
فضل مردان بر زن ای حالیپرست ** زان بود که مرد پایان بینترست