Saadi: Golestan 1.10 (From Persian)

From the Golestan: Chapter 1, Story 10
By Saadi of Shiraz
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

I was in retreat at the tomb of John the Baptist in the Mosque at Damascus when a certain king of the Arabs, infamous for injustice, happened by on pilgrimage. He said his prayers, and made a supplication.

Both rich and poor shall serve this dust indeed
The richest will be in the greatest need.  

Then he turned to me and said "Since you dervishes are known for powerful spirits and true dealings, lend me your thoughts for the road. Because I've got this enemy that's really frightening me." 

I told him: "deal mercifully with your weakest subjects, and the strongest enemy can never subject you."

It's wrong to maim 　with your mighty arms
The stretched fingers　 of the poor and frail
If you refuse mercy 　to the fallen, fall

Yourself, and find　no friendly aid.　
Who sows ill seed 　yet seeks good fruit
Is fantasizing 　with a foolish brain. 
Unplug your ears 　give people justice.
Be just or face 　your Judgment Day. 
　Humans are limbs of one totality,　
　Since all were formed of one identity. 　
　If any limb is harmed by fate's caprice　
　None of the rest have any rest or peace.　
　If others' suffering does not pain you too,　
　Then "human" is too good a name for you.　

The Original:

بر بالين تربت يحيي پيغامبر عليه السلام معتکف بودم در جامع دمشق که يکي از ملوک عرب که به بي انصافي منسوب بود، اتفاقا بزيارت آمد و نماز و دعا کرد و حاجت خواست

درويش و غني بنده اين خاک درند
وآنان که غني ترند محتاج ترند

آنگه مرا گفت از آنجا که همت درويشانست و صدق معاملت ايشان خاطري همراه من کنيد که از دشمني صعب انديشه ناکم، گفتمش بر رعيت ضعيف رحمت کن تا از دشمن قوي زحمت نبيني

ببازوان توانا و قوت سردست
خطاست پنجه مسکين ناتوان بشکست

نترسد آنکه بر افتادگان نبخشايد
که گر ز پاي درآيد کسش نگيرد دست

هر آنکه تخم بدي کشت و چشم نيکي داشت
دماغ بيهده پخت و خيال باطل بست

ز گوش پنبه برون آرو داد خلق بده
و گر تو ميندهي داد روز دادي هست

بني آدم اعضاي يکديگرند
که در آفرينش ز يک گوهرند

چو عضوي بدرد آورد روزگار
دگر عضوها را نماند قرار

تو کز محنت ديگران بيغمي
نشايد که نامت نهند آدمي