گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش3445
“The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”
گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا3450
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.