گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا3450
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.
تو رعیت باش چون سلطان نهای ** خود مران چون مرد کشتیبان نهای
Be a vassal since you are not a lord: do not steer (the boat) yourself, since you are not the boatman.
چون نهای کامل دکان تنها مگیر ** دستخوش میباش تا گردی خمیر3455
Since you are not (spiritually) perfect, do not take a shop (by yourself) alone. Be pliant to the hand, in order that you may become leavened (like dough).
أنصتوا را گوش کن خاموش باش ** چون زبان حق نگشتی گوش باش
Give ear to (the Divine command), “Keep silence,” be mute; since you have not become the tongue (mouthpiece) of God, be an ear.
ور بگویی شکل استفسار گو ** با شهنشاهان تو مسکینوار گو
And if you speak, speak in the form of a request for explanation: speak to the (spiritual) emperors as a lowly beggar.
ابتدای کبر و کین از شهوت است ** راسخی شهوتت از عادت است
The beginning of pride and hatred is in (worldly) lust, and the rootedness of your lust is from habit.
چون ز عادت گشت محکم خوی بد ** خشم آید بر کسی کت واکشد
When an evil disposition becomes confirmed by habit, you are enraged with any one who restrains you.
چون که تو گل خوار گشتی هر که او ** واکشد از گل ترا باشد عدو3460
After you have become an eater of clay, any one who restrains you from (eating) clay is your enemy.
بت پرستان چون که خو با بت کنند ** مانعان راه بت را دشمنند
Since idolaters are devoted to the idol, they are foes to them that prevent their access (to it).
چون که کرد ابلیس خو با سروری ** دید آدم را حقیر او از خری
Since Iblís had become accustomed to being leader, he in his folly regarded Adam with contempt.
که به از من سروری دیگر بود ** تا که او مسجود چون من کس شود
Saying, “Is there another leader superior to me, so that he should be worshipped by one like me?”
سروری زهر است جز آن روح را ** کاو بود تریاق لانی ز ابتدا
Leadership is poison, except to the spirit that from the beginning hath (in himself) abundance of the antidote.
کوه اگر پر مار شد باکی مدار ** کاو بود در اندرون تریاقزار3465
If the mountain is full of snakes, have no fear, for it is a mine of antidote within.
سروری چون شد دماغت را ندیم ** هر که بشکستت شود خصم قدیم
When leadership has become a bosom-friend to your brain, any one who breaks (thwarts) you becomes (as) an ancient adversary.
چون خلاف خوی تو گوید کسی ** کینهها خیزد ترا با او بسی
When any one contradicts your disposition (habit of mind), many feelings of hatred against him arise in you.
که مرا از خوی من بر میکند ** خویش را بر من چو سرور میکند
“He is tearing me (you say) from my (engrained) disposition, he is making himself like a captain over me.”
چون نباشد خوی بد سرکش در او ** کی فروزد آن خلاف آتش در او
Unless the evil disposition has become headstrong in him, how should the fire (of passion) blaze up in him through being opposed?
با مخالف او مدارایی کند ** در دل او خویش را جایی کند3470
He may show some feigned courtesy to the opponent, he may make a place for himself in his heart,