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.
بر تو دل میلرزدم ز اندیشهای ** با چنین خرسی مرو در بیشهای
My heart is trembling with anxiety for you: do not go into a forest with a bear like this.
این دلم هرگز نلرزید از گزاف ** نور حق است این نه دعوی و نه لاف
This heart of mine has never trembled in vain; this is the Light of God, not pretence or idle brag.
مومنم ینظر بنور الله شده ** هان و هان بگریز از این آتشکده
I am the true believer who has become seeing by the Light of God. Beware and beware! Flee from this fire-temple!”
این همه گفت و به گوشش در نرفت ** بد گمانی مرد را سدی است زفت
He said all this, and it entered not his ear: suspicion is a thick barrier to a man.
دست او بگرفت و دست از وی کشید ** گفت رفتم چون نهای یار رشید2025
He took his hand, and he (the man with the bear) withdrew his hand from him. The other said, “I will go, since you are not a well-guided friend.”
گفت رو بر من تو غم خواره مباش ** بو الفضولا معرفت کمتر تراش
“Go,” cried he; “be not troubled for me; don't carve (retail) so much wisdom, O meddlesome one!”
باز گفتش من عدوی تو نیام ** لطف باشد گر بیایی در پیام
He answered him, (saying), “I am not your enemy: it would be a kindness if you would come after me.”
گفت خوابستم مرا بگذار و رو ** گفت آخر یار را منقاد شو
“I am sleepy,” said he; “let me alone, go!” He replied, “Pray, give in to your friend,
تا بخسبی در پناه عاقلی ** در جوار دوستی صاحب دلی
So that you may sleep under the safeguard of a sage, under the protection of one loved (by God), a man of heart (spiritual insight).”
در خیال افتاد مرد از جد او ** خشمگین شد زود گردانید رو2030
The man was thrown by his (the other's) earnestness into a (groundless) fancy: he became angry and quickly averted his face,
کاین مگر قصد من آمد خونی است ** یا طمع دارد گدا و تونی است
Thinking, “Mayhap this man has come to attack me—he is a murderer; or he has hope (of gain)—he is a beggar and a tout;
یا گرو بسته ست با یاران بدین ** که بترساند مرا زین هم نشین
Or he has wagered with his friends that he will make me afraid of this companion.”
خود نیامد هیچ از خبث سرش ** یک گمان نیک اندر خاطرش
From the wickedness of his heart, not (even) one good surmise came into his thoughts at all.
ظن نیکش جملگی بر خرس بود ** او مگر مر خرس را هم جنس بود
His good opinions were wholly for the bear: to be sure, he was of the same kind as the bear.
عاقلی را از سگی تهمت نهاد ** خرس را دانست اهل مهر و داد2035
Through currishness, he suspected a sage and deemed a bear affectionate and just.
گفتن موسی علیه السلام گوساله پرست را که آن خیال اندیشی و حزم تو کجاست
How Moses, on whom be peace, said to one who worshipped the (golden) calf, “Where is (what has become of) thy vain scepticism and precaution?”
گفت موسی با یکی مست خیال ** کای بد اندیش از شقاوت وز ضلال
Moses said to one drunken with (deluding) fancy, “O thou who thinkest evil because of (thy) unblessedness and perdition,