XXXVII: I perceive in friendship together, the vile, deceitful…

I perceive in friendship together, the vile, deceitful world;
By which means its people have forfeited the country of truth.

It appeareth unto me, merely poison mixed with sugar,
This, than honey or than sugar, more seemingly, loving world.

Be mindful never to sit in the assembly, at any time soever,
Of this, without hurt, and without detriment, woe-begone world!

When is the brightness of any one's face agreeable or pleasing,
In the dark eyes, of the unto-justice-blear-eyed world?

Let it be an oblation on the altar of a single grain of modesty,
The hundred-weight-lascivious, wanton, shameless world!

In reality, it is but a useless shell, without a kernel,
The present race of mankind in comparison to the past.

The hand, from toil blistered over, is, truly, Yaman in itself;
Then why, in search of rubies, doth the scabby world wring its hands?

From the vile and base, it behoveth well, the heart's secret to guard--
In the flower-garden, the foul and filthy world is not admitted.

What do the sound and healthy ken of Hamid's heart's pangs?
Only the afflicted know, the state of the suffering world!