کی بود او را درین خوف و حزن ** آرزوی از قفص بیرون شدن
How, in this dread and sorrow, should it have the desire to go out of the cage?
او همی‌خواهد کزین ناخوش حصص ** صد قفص باشد بگرد این قفص
It wishes that, (to save it) from this unwelcome plucking (of its feathers), there might be a hundred cages round about this cage (in which it is confined).
عشق جالینوس برین حیات دنیا بود کی هنر او همینجا بکار می‌آید هنری نورزیده است کی در آن بازار بکار آید آنجا خود را به عوام یکسان می‌بیند
The love of (a) Galen is for this present life, for only here does his art avail; he has not practised any art that avails in yonder market: there he sees himself to be the same as the vulgar.
آنچنانک گفت جالینوس راد ** از هوای این جهان و از مراد3960
That is even as wise Galen said on account of (his) passion for this world and because of what he desired (in it)—
راضیم کز من بماند نیم جان ** که ز کون استری بینم جهان
“I am content that (only) half of my vital spirit should remain, so that I may see the world through the arse of a mule.”
گربه می‌بیند بگرد خود قطار ** مرغش آیس گشته بودست از مطار
He sees around him cats in troops: his bird has despaired of flying;
یا عدم دیدست غیر این جهان ** در عدم نادیده او حشری نهان
Or he has deemed all except this world to be non-existence and has not perceived in non-existence a hidden resurrection.
چون جنین کش می‌کشد بیرون کرم ** می‌گریزد او سپس سوی شکم
Like the embryo which (the Divine) Bounty is drawing forth: it is fleeing back towards the belly.
لطف رویش سوی مصدر می‌کند ** او مقر در پشت مادر می‌کند3965
(The Divine) Grace is turning its (the embryo's) face towards the place of exit, (while) it (the embryo) is making its abode in the mother's loins,
که اگر بیرون فتم زین شهر و کام ** ای عجب بینم بدیده این مقام
Saying, “Oh, I wonder, if I fall outside of this city and (abode of) pleasure, shall I see with my eye this dwelling-place;
یا دری بودی در آن شهر وخم ** که نظاره کردمی اندر رحم
Or would there be in that noisome city a door, so that I might gaze into the womb,
یا چو چشمه‌ی سوزنی راهم بدی ** که ز بیرونم رحم دیده شدی
Or would there be for me a path, (narrow) as the eye of a needle, so that the womb might become visible to me from outside?”
آن جنین هم غافلست از عالمی ** همچو جالینوس او نامحرمی
That embryo, too, is unaware of a world (outside): it is one unfamiliar (therewith), like Galen.
اونداند کن رطوباتی که هست ** آن مدد از عالم بیرونیست3970
It does not know that the humours which exist (in the womb) are supplied (to it) from the external world,
آنچنانک چار عنصر در جهان ** صد مدد آرد ز شهر لامکان
Even as the four elements in this world obtain a hundred supplies (means of support) from the City beyond space.
آب و دانه در قفص گر یافتست ** آن ز باغ و عرصه‌ای درتافتست
If it has found water and seeds in its cage, those have appeared (there) from a Garden and Expanse.
جانهای انبیا بینند باغ ** زین قفص در وقت نقلان و فراغ
The spirits of the prophets behold the Garden from this cage at the time of their being transported and freed (from the body);
پس ز جالینوس و عالم فارغند ** همچو ماه اندر فلکها بازغند
Hence they are free of Galen and the world: they are shining like the moon in the skies.
ور ز جالینوس این گفت افتراست ** پس جوابم بهر جالینوس نیست3975
And if this saying (as related) from Galen is a fiction, then my answer is not for Galen,
این جواب آنکس آمد کین بگفت ** که نبودستش دل پر نور جفت
(But) this is the answer to the person who said it, for the luminous heart has not been his mate.
مرغ جانش موش شد سوراخ‌جو ** چون شنید از گربگان او عرجوا
The bird, his spirit, became a mouse seeking a hole, when it heard from the cats (the cry), “Halt ye!”
زان سبب جانش وطن دید و قرار ** اندرین سوراخ دنیا موش‌وار
On that account his spirit, mouse-like, deemed its home and abode to be in this world-hole.
هم درین سوراخ بنایی گرفت ** درخور سوراخ دانایی گرفت
In this hole, too, it began to build and acquired a knowledge suitable to the hole;
پیشه‌هایی که مرورا در مزید ** کاندرین سوراخ کار آید گزید3980
It chose the trades advantageous to it, which would be of use in this hole.
زانک دل بر کند از بیرون شدن ** بسته شد راه رهیدن از بدن
Inasmuch as it turned its heart away from (relinquished the desire for) going forth, the way of deliverance from the body was barred.
عنکبوت ار طبع عنقا داشتی ** از لعابی خیمه کی افراشتی
If the spider had the nature of the ‘Anqá, how should it have reared a tent (made) of some gossamer?