روبهانه باشد آن صید مرید ** مرده گیرد صید کفتار مرید
The prey caught by the (obedient) disciple is (presented alive) after the manner of the fox, (but) the froward hyena catches prey (that is already) dead.
مرده پیش او کشی زنده شود ** چرک در پالیز روینده شود 2350
If you present the dead (prey) to him (the Qutb), it will become living: filth (when placed) in the orchard will produce (fruit).
گفت روبه شیر را خدمت کنم ** حیله‌ها سازم ز عقلش بر کنم
The fox said to the lion, “I will serve thee (obediently): I will contrive expedients and rob him (the ass) of his wits.
حیله و افسونگری کار منست ** کار من دستان و از ره بردنست
Cunning and enchantment is my business: it is my business to beguile and lead astray.”
از سر که جانب جو می‌شتافت ** آن خر مسکین لاغر را بیافت
Hastening from the mountain-top towards the river, he found that miserable emaciated ass.
پس سلام گرم کرد و پیش رفت ** پیش آن ساده دل درویش رفت
Then he saluted him cordially and advanced: he advanced to meet that poor simpleton,
گفت چونی اندرین صحرای خشک ** در میان سنگ لاخ و جای خشک 2355
And said (to him), “How are you in this arid desert (where you live) amidst stones and on sterile ground?”
گفت خر گر در غمم گر در ارم ** قسمتم حق کرد من زان شاکرم
The ass replied, “Whether I am in pain or in Iram, God has made it my portion, and I am grateful for it.
شکر گویم دوست را در خیر و شر ** زانک هست اندر قضا از بد بتر
I give thanks to the Friend (God) in good and evil estate, because in (the Divine) destiny there is worse than (the present) ill.
Since He is the Dispenser of portions, complaint is (an act of) infidelity. Patience is needful: patience is the key to the gift (bounteous reward).
غیر حق جمله عدواند اوست دوست ** با عدو از دوست شکوت کی نکوست
All except God are enemies: He (alone) is the Friend: how is it good (seemly) to complain of a friend to an enemy?
تا دهد دوغم نخواهم انگبین ** زانک هر نعمت غمی دارد قرین 2360
So long as He gives me buttermilk I will not desire honey, for every pleasure has a pain joined with it.”
حکایت دیدن خر هیزم‌فروش با نوایی اسپان تازی را بر آخر خاص و تمنا بردن آن دولت را در موعظه‌ی آنک تمنا نباید بردن الا مغفرت و عنایت و هدایت کی اگر در صد لون رنجی چون لذت مغفرت بود همه شیرین شود باقی هر دولتی کی آن را ناآزموده تمنی می‌بری با آن رنجی قرینست کی آن را نمی‌بینی چنانک از هر دامی دانه پیدا بود و فخ پنهان تو درین یک دام مانده‌ای تمنی می‌بری کی کاشکی با آن دانه‌ها رفتمی پنداری کی آن دانه‌ها بی‌دامست
Story of an ass belonging to a seller of firewood, which saw some well-fed Arab horses in the royal stable and wished for the same fortune. (This story is intended) to convey the lesson that one ought not to wish for anything but (God's) forgiveness and favour; for though you are in a hundred kinds of pain, they all become sweet (to you) when you feel the delight of being forgiven; and for the rest, every fortune that you wish for before you have experienced it is accompanied by a pain which you do not perceive (at the moment); as (for example) in every trap the bait is visible while the snare is concealed. You (who) have been caught in this one trap are (still) wishing (and saying to yourself), “Would that I had gone after those (other) baits!” You fancy that those baits are without a trap.
بود سقایی مرورا یک خری ** گشته از محنت دو تا چون چنبری
There was a water-carrier who owned an ass that had been bent double like a
پشتش از بار گران صد جای ریش ** عاشق و جویان روز مرگ خویش
hoop by affliction. Its back was galled by the heavy load in a hundred places: it was passionately desiring the day of its death.
جو کجا از کاه خشک او سیر نی ** در عقب زخمی و سیخی آهنی
What of barley? It never got its fill (even) of dry straw: at its heels a (cruel) blow and an iron goad.
میر آخر دید او را رحم کرد ** که آشنای صاحب خر بود مرد
The Master of the (royal) stable saw it and took pity—for the man was acquainted with the owner of the ass—
پس سلامش کرد و پرسیدش ز حال ** کز چه این خر گشت دوتا هم‌چو دال 2365
So he saluted him and asked him what had happened, saying, “What is the cause of this ass being bent double like a dál?”
گفت از درویشی و تقصیر من ** که نمی‌یابد خود این بسته‌دهن
He replied, “On account of my poverty and destitution this dumb animal is not getting even straw.”
گفت بسپارش به من تو روز چند ** تا شود در آخر شه زورمند
“Hand him over to me,” said the other, “for a few days, that in the King's stable he may grow strong.”
خر بدو بسپرد و آن رحمت‌پرست ** در میان آخر سلطانش بست
He handed the ass over to him, and that merciful man tethered him in the Sultan's stable.
خر ز هر سو مرکب تازی بدید ** با نوا و فربه و خوب و جدید
The ass saw on every side (of him) Arab horses, well-fed and fat and handsome and glossy;
زیر پاشان روفته آبی زده ** که به وقت وجو به هنگام آمده 2370
(He saw the ground) swept (clean) under their feet and sprinkled with water; the straw coming at the (proper) time, and the barley at the hour (when it was expected).
خارش و مالش مر اسپان را بدید ** پوز بالا کرد کای رب مجید
He saw the horses curry-combed and rubbed down. (Then) he lifted up his muzzle, crying, “O glorious Lord,
نه که مخلوق توم گیرم خرم ** از چه زار و پشت ریش و لاغرم
Am not I Thy creature? I grant that I am an ass, (but) wherefore am I wretched, with sores on my back, and lean?
شب ز درد پشت و از جوع شکم ** آرزومندم به مردن دم به دم
At night, because of the pain in my back and the (pangs of) hunger in my belly, I am always wishing to die.