گفت زشت آوازم و ناخوش نوا ** زشت آوازی و کوری شد دوتا
He answered, “I have an ugly voice and unpleasing tones: ugliness of voice and blindness are double (blindness).
بانگ زشتم مایهی غم میشود ** مهر خلق از بانگ من کم میشود
My ugly cry becomes the source of annoyance: the people's love is lessened by my cry.
زشت آوازم به هر جا که رود ** مایهی خشم و غم و کین میشود
Whithersoever my ugly voice goes, it becomes the source of anger and annoyance and hatred.
بر دو کوری رحم را دوتا کنید ** این چنین ناگنج را گنجا کنید
Double your compassion for (these) two blindnesses: make room (in your hearts) for one who gets so little room.”
زشتی آواز کم شد زین گله ** خلق شد بر وی به رحمت یک دله2000
The ugliness of (his) voice was diminished by this plaint: the people became of one mind in (showing) compassion for him.
کرد نیکو چون بگفت او راز را ** لطف آواز دلش آواز را
When he had told the secret (and explained his meaning), his voice was made beautiful by the graciousness of the voice of his heart;
و انکه آواز دلش هم بد بود ** آن سه کوری دوری سرمد بود
But that one whose heart's voice also is bad—(for him) those three blindnesses are banishment everlasting (from the favour of God);
لیک وهابان که بیعلت دهند ** بو که دستی بر سر زشتش نهند
Yet it may be that the bounteous (saints), who give without cause, will lay a hand (of blessing) upon his ugly head.
چون که آوازش خوش و مظلوم شد ** زو دل سنگین دلان چون موم شد
Since his (the blind beggar's) voice became sweet and pitiable, the hearts of the stony-hearted were made (soft) as wax thereby.
نالهی کافر چو زشت است و شهیق ** ز آن نمیگردد اجابت را رفیق2005
Inasmuch as the infidel's lament is ugly and (like) braying, for that (reason) it meets with no (favourable) response.
اخسؤا بر زشت آواز آمده ست ** کاو ز خون خلق چون سگ بود مست
“Be silent” has come down (has been revealed in the Qur’án) against the ugly-voiced (infidel), for he was drunken with the people's blood, like a dog.
چون که نالهی خرس رحمت کش بود ** نالهات نبود چنین ناخوش بود
Inasmuch as the lament of the bear attracts compassion, (while) your lament is not like this, (but) is unpleasing,
دان که با یوسف تو گرگی کردهای ** یا ز خون بیگناهی خوردهای
Know that you have behaved with wolfishness to (a) Joseph, or have drunk of the blood of an innocent.
توبه کن و ز خورده استفراغ کن ** ور جراحت کهنه شد رو داغ کن
Repent, and empty yourself of what you have drunk; and if your wound is old (and unhealed), go, cauterise (it).
تتمهی حکایت خرس و آن ابله که بر وفای او اعتماد کرده بود
Continuation of the story of the bear and of the fool who had put trust in its good faith.
خرس هم از اژدها چون وارهید ** و آن کرم ز آن مرد مردانه بدید2010
The bear, too, when it was delivered from the dragon and received such kindness from that brave man—
چون سگ اصحاب کهف آن خرس زار ** شد ملازم در پی آن بردبار
Like the dog of the Men of the Cave, that poor bear became an attendant at the heels of him that bore the burden (of the fight with the dragon).
آن مسلمان سر نهاد از خستگی ** خرس حارس گشت از دل بستگی
That Moslem, from fatigue, laid down his head (to rest); the bear, from devotion (to him), became (his) guard.
آن یکی بگذشت و گفتش حال چیست ** ای برادر مر ترا این خرس کیست
A certain man passed by and said to him, “What has happened? O brother, who is this bear (in relation) to you?”
قصه واگفت و حدیث اژدها ** گفت بر خرسی منه دل ابلها
He recounted the adventure, and the story of the dragon. The other said, “Do not set your heart on a bear, O fool!
دوستی ابله بتر از دشمنی است ** او بهر حیله که دانی راندنی است2015
The friendship of a fool is worse than (his) enmity: it (the bear) ought to be driven away by every means you know.”
گفت و الله از حسودی گفت این ** ور نه خرسی چه نگری این مهر بین
He (the man with the bear) said (to himself), “By God, he has said this from envy; otherwise,” (he said aloud), “why do you look at the bearishness (of the bear)? Behold this affection (which it has for me)!”
گفت مهر ابلهان عشوهده است ** این حسودی من از مهرش به است
“The affection of fools,” said the other, “is beguiling; this envy of mine is better than its (the bear's) affection.
هی بیا با من بران این خرس را ** خرس را مگزین مهل هم جنس را
Hey, come with me and drive away this bear: do not choose the bear (as your friend), do not forsake one of your own kind!”
گفت رو رو کار خود کن ای حسود ** گفت کارم این بد و رزقت نبود
“Go, go,” said he, “mind your own business, O envious man!” Said the other, “This was my business, and it was not your fortune (to follow my advice).
من کم از خرسی نباشم ای شریف ** ترک او کن تا منت باشم حریف2020
I am not less than a bear, O noble sir: abandon it, in order that I may be your comrade.