XLVIII: How unseemly, how culpably, thou pratest, O addle-head…

How unseemly, how culpably, thou pratest, O addle-head one!
Wherefore from the Almighty, askest thou not pardon for this.

Thou grievest long enough about thy modesty and good name;
But, in the affairs of the world, who more dastard than thou?

Thou showest no concern about religion, though it should be destroyed--
Thou misguided--thou shameless--thou unworthy creature!

Just as the child giveth pearls and jewels, in exchange for bread;
In such wise playest thou, for the world, thy faith away.

What! thou, who givest thy heart to the world, seekest grace!
Thy life passeth bootlessly away, thou sifter of the wind!

The foolish man yearneth after the goods of the world;
And the baby capereth along, astride the cane horse.

Nothing unlawful, is a whit more pleasant than the lawful;
But thy own sister and daughter are foul-nosed, in thy sight.

Thou hast not, in the least, swept it with the broom of repentance--
The path of death, thou hast left, in the same thorny state as before.

Since thou hast kept the field against men, good and brave,
Unto the smiting-sword of Hamid's intellect be all praise!