Fragment No. 5

Iraqi style
English

Fragment No. 5

Tell the beautiful one to dress in rags: they remain the same lovely, adorned figure. Tell the ugly one to wear a thousand fine robes: they remain the same corpse washer from last year.
Explanation: The 'corpse washer' image marks someone as unattractive and lifeless no matter how they are dressed up; the point is that true worth lies within, not in outward appearance.

Original · Persian

قطعه شمارهٔ ۵

خوب را گو پلاس در بر کن که همان لعبت نگارینست
زشت را گو هزار حله بپوش که همان مرده‌شوی پارینست