تو چه داری که چنین بی‌آفتی ** بی‌عثاری و کم اندر رو فتی3390
What hast thou that thou art so untouched by bane and free from stumbling and dost not fall on thy face?”
گفت گر چه هر سعادت از خداست ** در میان ما و تو بس فرقهاست
He (the camel) said, “Though every felicity is from God, there are many differences between me and thee.
سر بلندم من دو چشم من بلند ** بینش عالی امانست از گزند
I have a high head, my eyes are high: lofty vision is a protection against injury.
از سر که من ببینم پای کوه ** هر گو و هموار را من توه توه
From the top of the mountain I see the mountain-foot, I see every hollow and level, fold by fold,
هم‌چنانک دید آن صدر اجل ** پیش کار خویش تا روز اجل
Just as that most noble prince (the perfect saint) saw his future destiny till the day of death.
آنچ خواهد بود بعد بیست سال ** داند اندر حال آن نیکو خصال3395
That person of goodly qualities knows at the present time what will happen after twenty years.
حال خود تنها ندید آن متقی ** بلک حال مغربی و مشرقی
That God-fearing man did not see his own destiny only; nay, the destiny of (every) inhabitant of the West and East.
نور در چشم و دلش سازد سکن ** بهر چه سازد پی حب الوطن
The Light makes its abode in his eye and heart. Wherefore does it make (its abode there)? For love of home.
هم‌چو یوسف کو بدید اول به خواب ** که سجودش کرد ماه و آفتاب
(He is) like Joseph, who at first dreamed that the sun and moon bowed in worship before him:
از پس ده سال بلک بیشتر ** آنچ یوسف دید بد بر کرد سر
After ten years, nay, more, that which Joseph had seen came to pass.
نیست آن ینظر به نور الله گزاف ** نور ربانی بود گردون شکاف3400
That (saying), ‘he sees by the Light of God,’ is not vain: the Divine Light rives the sky asunder.
نیست اندر چشم تو آن نور رو ** هستی اندر حس حیوانی گرو
In thine eye that Light is not. Go! Thou art in pawn to the animal senses.
تو ز ضعف چشم بینی پیش پا ** تو ضعیف و هم ضعیفت پیشوا
From weakness of eye thou seest (only) in front of thy foot: thou art weak and thy guide, too, is weak.
پیشوا چشمست دست و پای را ** کو ببیند جای را ناجای را
The eye is the guide for hand and foot, for it sees (both) the right and the wrong place.
دیگر آنک چشم من روشن‌ترست ** دیگر آنک خلقت من اطهرست
Another thing is that my eye is clearer; another, that my nature is purer,
زانک هستم من ز اولاد حلال ** نه ز اولاد زنا و اهل ضلال3405
Because I am one of the lawfully begotten, not one of the children of adultery and the people of perdition.
تو ز اولاد زنایی بی‌گمان ** تیر کژ پرد چو بد باشد کمان
Thou art one of the children of adultery: without doubt the arrow flies crookedly when the bow is bad.”
تصدیق کردن استر جوابهای شتر را و اقرار کردن بفضل او بر خود و ازو استعانت خواستن و بدو پناه گرفتن به صدق و نواختن شتر او را و ره نمودن و یاری دادن پدرانه و شاهانه
How the mule declared the replies of the camel to be true and acknowledged his (the camel's) superiority to himself and besought his aid and took refuge with him sincerely; and how the camel treated him with kindness and showed him the way and gave help in fatherly and kingly fashion.
گفت استر راست گفتی ای شتر ** این بگفت و چشم کرد از اشک پر
The mule said, “Thou hast spoken the truth, O camel.” This he said and filled his eye with tears.
ساعتی بگریست و در پایش فتاد ** گفت ای بگزیده‌ی رب العباد
He wept awhile and fell at his (the camel's) feet and said, “O chosen of the Lord of men,
چه زیان دارد گر از فرخندگی ** در پذیری تو مرا دربندگی
What harm will it do if thou, by (favour of) thy blessedness, wilt receive me into thy service?”
گفت چون اقرار کردی پیش من ** رو که رستی تو ز آفات زمن3410
He (the camel) said, “Since thou hast made confession in my presence, go (in peace), for thou art saved from the contaminations of Time.
دادی انصاف و رهیدی از بلا ** تو عدو بودی شدی ز اهل ولا
Thou hast given justice (hast made just amends) and art saved from tribulation: thou wast an enemy, thou hast become one of the leal.
خوی بد در ذات تو اصلی نبود ** کز بد اصلی نیاید جز جحود
The evil disposition was not original (innate) in thy person; for from original evil comes naught but denial.
آن بد عاریتی باشد که او ** آرد اقرار و شود او توبه‌جو
The borrowed (temporary) evil is such that he (in whom it appears) makes confession and desires to repent;
هم‌چو آدم زلتش عاریه بود ** لاجرم اندر زمان توبه نمود
Like Adam, whose lapse was temporary: of necessity he showed penitence at once.