گفت روبه آن طلسم سحر بود ** که ترا در چشم آن شیری نمود
The fox replied, “It was a spell of magic that appeared in your eyes as a lion;
ورنه من از تو به تن مسکین‌ترم ** که شب و روز اندر آنجا می‌چرم
Else I am more puny in body than you, and I always feed there by night and day.
گرنه زان گونه طلسمی ساختی ** هر شکم‌خواری بدانجا تاختی
If he (the magician) had not wrought a spell of that kind, every famishing (animal) would have run thither.
یک جهان بی‌نوا پر پیل و ارج ** بی‌طلسمی کی بماندی سبز مرج 2615
(In) a foodless world full of elephants and rhinoceroses how should the meadow have remained verdant without (the protection of) a spell?
من ترا خود خواستم گفتن به درس ** که چنان هولی اگر بینی مترس
Truly, I meant to tell you, by way of instruction, not to be afraid if you should see a terrible thing like that;
لیک رفت از یاد علم آموزیت ** که بدم مستغرق دلسوزیت
But I forgot to impart (this) knowledge to you, because I was overwhelmed with grief and pity on your account.
دیدمت در جوع کلب و بی‌نوا ** می‌شتابیدم که آیی تا دوا
I saw you were ravenously hungry and without food, (therefore) I was making haste so that you might attain to the remedy;
ورنه با تو گفتمی شرح طلسم ** که آن خیالی می‌نماید نیست جسم
Otherwise I would have explained the spell to you: it (the lion) presents itself as an apparition, it is not a (real) body.”
جواب گفتن خر روباه را
The reply of the ass to the fox.
گفت رو رو هین ز پیشم ای عدو ** تا نبینم روی تو ای زشت‌رو 2620
“Hark,” cried the ass, “begone, begone from my presence, O enemy, that I may not see your face, O ugly one!
آن خدایی که ترا بدبخت کرد ** روی زشتت را کریه و سخت کرد
That God who made you ill-fated hath made your ugly face detestable and impudent.
با کدامین روی می‌آیی به من ** این چنین سغری ندارد کرگدن
With what face do you come to me? The rhinoceros has not such a hard skin (as you have).
رفته‌ای در خون جانم آشکار ** که ترا من ره‌برم تا مرغزار
You manifestly attempted to shed my life-blood, saying, ‘I will guide you to the meadow,’
تا بدیدم روی عزرائیل را ** باز آوردی فن و تسویل را
So that I beheld the face of Azrael; (now) again you have brought cunning and plausible suggestion (to bear on me).
گرچه من ننگ خرانم یا خرم ** جانورم جان دارم این را کی خرم 2625
Though I am a disgrace to the asses or an ass (myself), (yet) I am possessed of life, I have a vital spirit: how should I purchase (accept and believe) this (palaver)?
آنچ من دیدم ز هول بی‌امان ** طفل دیدی پیر گشتی در زمان
If a child had seen the pitiless horror that I saw, it would instantly have become old.
بی‌دل و جان از نهیب آن شکوه ** سرنگون خود را در افکندم ز کوه
Deprived of heart and soul by dread of that awful object, I threw myself headlong from the mountain.
بسته شد پایم در آن دم از نهیب ** چون بدیدم آن عذاب بی‌حجاب
My legs were tied (paralysed) by terror as soon as I perceived that (cruel) torment without (any) barrier (between it and me).
عهد کردم با خدا کای ذوالمنن ** برگشا زین بستگی تو پای من
I made a promise to God, crying, ‘O gracious One, do Thou loose my legs from this bondage,
تا ننوشم وسوسه‌ی کس بعد ازین ** عهد کردم نذر کردم ای معین 2630
So that henceforth I may not listen to any one's temptation: I promise, I vow (that I will not listen), O Helper!’
حق گشاده کرد آن دم پای من ** زان دعا و زاری و ایمای من
Thereupon God loosed my legs because of my prayer and humble entreaty and indication (of abasement);
ورنه اندر من رسیدی شیر نر ** چون بدی در زیر پنجه‌ی شیر خر
Else the fierce lion would have overtaken me: how would an ass have fared in the grip of a lion?
باز بفرستادت آن شیر عرین ** سوی من از مکر ای بس القرین
Now the lion of the jungle has sent you to me again for the purpose of deceit, O evil companion that you are!”
حق ذات پاک الله الصمد ** که بود به مار بد از یار بد
(I swear) by the truth of the Holy Person of Allah, the Lord, that a malign snake is better than a malign friend.
مار بد جانی ستاند از سلیم ** یار بد آرد سوی نار مقیم 2635
The malign snake takes a soul (life) from the man it has bitten; the malign friend leads him into the everlasting Fire.
از قرین بی‌قول و گفت و گوی او ** خو بدزدد دل نهان از خوی او
Thy heart secretly steals its disposition from the disposition of thy companion, without speech and talk on his part.