یک جزیره‌ی سبز هست اندر جهان ** اندرو گاویست تنها خوش‌دهان 2855
There is in the world a green island where a sweet-mouthed cow lives alone.
جمله صحرا را چرد او تا به شب ** تا شود زفت و عظیم و منتجب
She feeds on the whole field till nightfall, so that she grows stout and big and choice.
شب ز اندیشه که فردا چه خورم ** گردد او چون تار مو لاغر ز غم
During the night she becomes thin as a hair from anxiety, because she thinks, “What shall I eat to-morrow?”
چون برآید صبح گردد سبز دشت ** تا میان رسته قصیل سبز و کشت
At rise of dawn the field becomes green: the green blades and grain have grown up to (a man's) middle.
اندر افتد گاو با جوع البقر ** تا به شب آن را چرد او سر به سر
The cow falls to ravenously: till night she feeds on that (vegetation and devours it) entirely.
باز زفت و فربه و لمتر شود ** آن تنش از پیه و قوت پر شود 2860
Again she becomes stout and fat and bulky: her body is filled with fat and strength.
باز شب اندر تب افتد از فزع ** تا شود لاغر ز خوف منتجع
Then again at night she (is stricken) by panic (and) falls into a fever (of anxiety), so that from fear of seeking (vainly) for fodder she becomes lean,
که چه خواهم خورد فردا وقت خور ** سالها اینست کار آن بقر
Thinking, “What shall I eat to-morrow at meal-time?” This is what that cow does for (many) years.
هیچ نندیشد که چندین سال من ** می‌خورم زین سبزه‌زار و زین چمن
She never thinks, “All these years I have been eating from this meadow and this pasture;
هیچ روزی کم نیامد روزیم ** چیست این ترس و غم و دلسوزیم
My provender has never failed (even) for a day: what, (then), is this fear and anguish and heart-burning of mine?”
باز چون شب می‌شود آن گاو زفت ** می‌شود لاغر که آوه رزق رفت 2865
(No); when night falls that stout cow becomes lean again, thinking, “Alas, the provender is gone.”
نفس آن گاوست و آن دشت این جهان ** کو همی لاغر شود از خوف نان
The cow is the carnal soul, and the field is this world, where she (the carnal soul) is made lean by fear for her daily bread,
که چه خواهم خورد مستقبل عجب ** لوت فردا از کجا سازم طلب
Thinking, “I wonder what I shall eat in the future: whence shall I seek food for to-morrow?”
سالها خوردی و کم نامد ز خور ** ترک مستقبل کن و ماضی نگر
Thou hast eaten for years, and food has never failed: leave the future and look at the past.
لوت و پوت خورده را هم یاد آر ** منگر اندر غابر و کم باش زار
Bring to mind the food and viands thou hast eaten (already): do not regard what is to come, and do not be miserable.
صید کردن شیر آن خر را و تشنه شدن شیر از کوشش رفت به چشمه تا آب خورد تا باز آمدن شیر جگربند و دل و گرده را روباه خورده بود کی لطیفترست شیر طلب کرد دل و جگر نیافت از روبه پرسید کی کو دل و جگر روبه گفت اگر او را دل و جگر بودی آنچنان سیاستی دیده بود آن روز و به هزار حیله جان برده کی بر تو باز آمدی لوکنا نسمع او نعقل ماکنا فی اصحاب السعیر
How the lion made the ass his prey, and being thirsty after his exertions went to the spring to drink. Before his return the fox had eaten the liver together with the lungs, heart, and kidneys, which are the choicest parts. The lion looked for the heart and liver, and when he did not find them asked the fox where they were. The fox replied, “If he had possessed a heart and liver, how should he have come back to thee after receiving such a stern lesson on that day and (only) saving his life by means of a thousand devices?” “If we had hearkened or considered with understanding we should not have been among the fellows of Hell-fire.”
برد خر را روبهک تا پیش شیر ** پاره‌پاره کردش آن شیر دلیر 2870
The little fox brought the ass into the presence of the lion: the courageous lion tore him to pieces.
تشنه شد از کوشش آن سلطان دد ** رفت سوی چشمه تا آبی خورد
The King of the Beasts was made thirsty by his exertions and went to the spring to drink some water.
روبهک خورد آن جگربند و دلش ** آن زمان چون فرصتی شد حاصلش
Meanwhile the little fox, having got an opportunity, ate his (the ass's) liver, lungs, and heart.
شیر چون وا گشت از چشمه به خور ** جست در خر دل نه دل بد نه جگر
When the lion returned from the spring to eat (his prey), he looked in the ass to find the heart, (but) there was neither heart nor liver.
گفت روبه را جگر کو دل چه شد ** که نباشد جانور را زین دو بد
He said to the fox, “Where is the liver? What has become of the heart?—for no animal can do without these two (organs).”
گفت گر بودی ورا دل یا جگر ** کی بدینجا آمدی بار دگر 2875
He (the fox) replied, “If he had possessed a heart or liver, how should he have come here a second time?
آن قیامت دیده بود و رستخیز ** وآن ز کوه افتادن و هول و گریز
He had experienced that tremendous agony and turmoil, the scramble down the mountain, the terror, and the flight;
گر جگر بودی ورا یا دل بدی ** بار دیگر کی بر تو آمدی
If he had had a liver or heart, how could he have come a second time into thy presence?”
چون نباشد نور دل دل نیست آن ** چون نباشد روح جز گل نیست آن
When there is no light in the heart, ’tis no heart; when there is no spirit (in the body), ’tis naught but earth.
آن زجاجی کو ندارد نور جان ** بول و قاروره‌ست قندیلش مخوان
The (heart resembling) glass that hath no spiritual light is (like) urine and the urine-phial: do not call it a lamp.