ساعتی در روی من خوش بنگرید ** چشمکم زد آستین من درید
Looked pleasantly on my face for a while, made little eyes at me, and plucked my sleeve.
گر نه جنسیت بدی در من از او ** کی رخ آوردی به من آن زشت رو
Had there not been in me congeniality with him, how would that ill-favoured man have turned his face towards me?
گر ندیدی جنس خود کی آمدی ** کی به غیر جنس خود را بر زدی2100
Had he not seen (in me) one of his own kind, how should he have approached? How should he have thrown himself upon (attached himself to) one of another kind?”
چون دو کس بر هم زند بیهیچ شک ** در میانشان هست قدر مشترک
When two persons come into touch with each other, without any doubt there is something in common between them.
کی پرد مرغی مگر با جنس خود ** صحبت ناجنس گور است و لحد
How should a bird fly except with its own kind? The society of the uncongenial is the grave and the tomb.
سبب پریدن و چریدن مرغی با مرغی که جنس او نبود
The cause of a bird's flying and feeding with a bird that is not of its own kind.
آن حکیمی گفت دیدم هم تکی ** در بیابان زاغ را با لکلکی
Said a certain sage, “I saw a crow running about in the desert with a stork.
در عجب ماندم بجستم حالشان ** تا چه قدر مشترک یابم نشان
I marvelled long, and I investigated their case, in order that I might find the clue (as to) what it was that they had in common.
چون شدم نزدیک، من حیران و دنگ ** خود بدیدم هر دوان بودند لنگ2105
When, amazed and bewildered, I approached them, (then) indeed I saw that both of them were lame.”
خاصه شهبازی که او عرشی بود ** با یکی جغدی که او فرشی بود
In particular, (how should) a royal falcon, which is of the highest heaven, (consort) with an owl, which is of the low earth?
آن یکی خورشید علیین بود ** وین دگر خفاش کز سجین بود
That one is the sun of ‘Illiyyún, while the other is a bat which belongs to Sijjín.