One of Nizami’s Pearls

Bahram-e Gur, a Persian miniature based on a writing of the great Azeri poet Nizami

گوهر نیک را ز عقد مریز وآنکه بد گوهرست ازو بگریز

بدگهر با کسی وفا نکند اصل بد در خطا خطا نکند

اصل بد با تو چون شود معطی آن نخواندی که اصل لایخطی

کژدم از راه آنکه بدگهرست ماندنش عیب و کشتنش هنرست

هنرآموز کز هنرمندی در گشائی کنی نه در بندی

هرکه ز آموختن ندارد ننگ در برآرد ز آب و لعل از سنگ

وانکه دانش نباشدش روزی ننگ دارد ز دانشآموزی

ای بسا تیز طبع کاهل کوش که شد از کاهلی سفال فروش

وای بسا کور دل که از تعلیم گشت قاضیالقضات هفت اقلیم

Take not apart the good pearl from the string; from him who is of evil nature flee.

An evil nature acts consistently: have you not heard that Nature does not err?

The evil-natured man keeps faith with none; the erring nature does not fail to err.

The scorpion since it is by nature bad—to let it live’s a fault, to kill it, good.

Seek knowledge, for through knowledge you effect that doors to you be opened and not closed.

He who shames not at learning can draw forth pearls from the water, rubies from the rock.

Whilst he to whom no knowledge is assigned—that person (you will find) ashamed to learn.

How many, keen of mind, in effort slack, sell pottery from lack of pearls (to sell)!

How many a dullard, through his being taught, becomes the chief judge of the Seven Climes!

–Nezāmi-ye Ganjavī (نظامی گنجوی), The Seven Beauties (1196 CE)(E. Wilson transl.)