سینه را پا ساخت می‌رفت آن حذور ** از مقام با خطر تا بحر نور2235
That wary (fish) made its breast o afoot (swam away) and was going from its perilous abode to the sea of light,
هم‌چو آهو کز پی او سگ بود ** می‌دود تا در تنش یک رگ بود
Like the deer of which a dog is in pursuit and which keeps running so long as there is a single nerve in its body.
خواب خرگوش و سگ اندر پی خطاست ** خواب خود در چشم ترسنده کجاست
Hare’s sleep (heedlessness) with the dog in pursuit is a sin: how indeed is sleep (dwelling) in the eye of him who hath fear?
رفت آن ماهی ره دریا گرفت ** راه دور و پهنه‌ی پهنا گرفت
That fish departed and took the way to the sea: it took the far way and the vast expanse.
رنجها بسیار دید و عاقبت ** رفت آخر سوی امن و عافیت
It suffered many afflictions, and in the end it went after all towards safety and welfare.
خویشتن افکند در دریای ژرف ** که نیابد حد آن را هیچ طرف2240
It cast itself into the deep Sea whose bound no eye can reach.
پس چو صیادان بیاوردند دام ** نیم‌عاقل را از آن شد تلخ کام
So when the fishermen brought their net (to the lake), the half-intelligent (fish) was bitterly grieved thereat.
گفت اه من فوت کردم فرصه را ** چون نگشتم همره آن رهنما
And said, “Alas, I have lost the opportunity: how did not I accompany that guide?
ناگهان رفت او ولیکن چونک رفت ** می‌ببایستم شدن در پی بتفت
He went off suddenly, but seeing that he went I ought to have gone after him in hot haste.”
بر گذشته حسرت آوردن خطاست ** باز ناید رفته یاد آن هباست
‘Tis wrong to regret the past: what is gone will not come back: to remember it is of no avail.
قصه‌ی آن مرغ گرفته کی وصیت کرد کی بر گذشته پشیمانی مخور تدارک وقت اندیش و روزگار مبر در پشیمانی
Story of the captive bird which gave the (following) injunctions: do not feel sorrow for what is past, think about taking precaution for the present (need), and do not spend time in repenting.