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.
آن یکی مرغی گرفت از مکر و دام ** مرغ او را گفت ای خواجه‌ی همام2245
A certain man caught a bird by guile and trap: the bird said to him, “O noble sire,
به تو بسی گاوان و میشان خورده‌ای ** تو بسی اشتر به قربان کرده‌ای
Thou hast eaten many oxen and sheep, thou hast sacrificed many camels;
تو نگشتی سیر زانها در زمن ** هم نگردی سیر از اجزای من
Thou hast never in the world been sated by them, neither wilt thou be sated by my limbs.
هل مرا تا که سه پندت بر دهم ** تا بدانی زیرکم یا ابلهم
Let me go, that I may bestow on thee three counsels, that thou mayst perceive whether I am wise or foolish.
اول آن پند هم در دست تو ** ثانیش بر بام کهگل بست تو
(I will give thee) the first of those counsels on thy hand, the second of them on thy plastered roof,
وآن سوم پند دهم من بر درخت ** که ازین سه پند گردی نیکبخت2250
And the third counsel I will give thee on a tree. (Let me go), for thou wilt become fortunate through these three counsels.
آنچ بر دستست اینست آن سخن ** که محالی را ز کس باور مکن
(As for) that saying which is (to be said) on thy hand, ’tis this: ‘do not believe an absurdity (when thou hearest it) from any one.’”
بر کفش چون گفت اول پند زفت ** گشت آزاد و بر آن دیوار رفت
When it (the bird) had uttered the first grave counsel on his palm, it became free and went (to perch) on the wall (of his house),
گفت دیگر بر گذشته غم مخور ** چون ز تو بگذشت زان حسرت مبر
And said, “The second is, ‘do not grieve over (what is) past: when it has passed from thee, do not feel regret for it.’”