شب ز اندیشه که فردا چه خورم ** گردد او چون تار مو لاغر ز غم
During the night she becomes thin as a hair from anxiety, because she thinks, “What shall I eat to-morrow?”
چون برآید صبح گردد سبز دشت ** تا میان رسته قصیل سبز و کشت
At rise of dawn the field becomes green: the green blades and grain have grown up to (a man's) middle.
اندر افتد گاو با جوع البقر ** تا به شب آن را چرد او سر به سر
The cow falls to ravenously: till night she feeds on that (vegetation and devours it) entirely.
باز زفت و فربه و لمتر شود ** آن تنش از پیه و قوت پر شود 2860
Again she becomes stout and fat and bulky: her body is filled with fat and strength.
باز شب اندر تب افتد از فزع ** تا شود لاغر ز خوف منتجع
Then again at night she (is stricken) by panic (and) falls into a fever (of anxiety), so that from fear of seeking (vainly) for fodder she becomes lean,
که چه خواهم خورد فردا وقت خور ** سالها اینست کار آن بقر
Thinking, “What shall I eat to-morrow at meal-time?” This is what that cow does for (many) years.
هیچ نندیشد که چندین سال من ** می‌خورم زین سبزه‌زار و زین چمن
She never thinks, “All these years I have been eating from this meadow and this pasture;
هیچ روزی کم نیامد روزیم ** چیست این ترس و غم و دلسوزیم
My provender has never failed (even) for a day: what, (then), is this fear and anguish and heart-burning of mine?”
باز چون شب می‌شود آن گاو زفت ** می‌شود لاغر که آوه رزق رفت 2865
(No); when night falls that stout cow becomes lean again, thinking, “Alas, the provender is gone.”
نفس آن گاوست و آن دشت این جهان ** کو همی لاغر شود از خوف نان
The cow is the carnal soul, and the field is this world, where she (the carnal soul) is made lean by fear for her daily bread,