هر که او بر خو و بر طبع تو زیست ** پیش طبع تو ولی است و نبیست
Whosoever lives in accordance with thy disposition and nature seems to thy (carnal) nature to be a saint and a prophet.
رو هوا بگذار تا بویت شود ** وان مشام خوش عبرجویت شود 905
Go, renounce sensuality in order that the (spiritual) scent may be thine and that the sweet ambergris-seeking organ of smell may be thine.
از هوارانی دماغت فاسدست ** مشک و عنبر پیش مغزت کاسدست
Thy brain (organ of smell) is corrupted by sensual indulgence: to thy (olfactory) sense musk and ambergris are unsalable.
حد ندارد این سخن و آهوی ما ** می‌گریزد اندر آخر جابجا
This discourse hath no bound, and (meanwhile) our gazelle is running to and fro in flight in the stable.
بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی آهو و آخر خران
The remainder of the Story of the gazelle in the donkey-stable.
روزها آن آهوی خوش‌ناف نر ** در شکنجه بود در اصطبل خر
During (many) days the sweet-navelled male gazelle was in torment in the donkey-stable,
مضطرب در نزع چون ماهی ز خشک ** در یکی حقه معذب پشک و مشک
Like a fish wriggling in the death-agony from (being kept on) dry ground, (or like) dung and musk tortured (by being kept) in the same box.
یک خرش گفتی که ها این بوالوحوش ** طبع شاهان دارد و میران خموش 910
One donkey would say to his neighbour, “Ha! this wild fellow has the nature of kings and princes. Hush!”
وآن دگر تسخر زدی کز جر و مد ** گوهر آوردست کی ارزان دهد
And the other would mock, saying, “By (constant) ebb and flow he has gained a pearl: how should he sell cheaply?”
وآن خری گفتی که با این نازکی ** بر سریر شاه شو گو متکی
And another donkey would say, “With this fastidiousness (of his), let him recline on the imperial throne!”
آن خری شد تخمه وز خوردن بماند ** پس برسم دعوت آهو را بخواند
A certain donkey became ill with indigestion and was unable to eat; therefore he gave the gazelle a formal invitation (to dine).
سر چنین کرد او که نه رو ای فلان ** اشتهاام نیست هستم ناتوان
He (the gazelle) shook his head, (as though to say), “Nay, begone, O such-and such: I have no appetite, I am unwell.”
گفت می‌دانم که نازی می‌کنی ** یا ز ناموس احترازی می‌کنی 915
He (the donkey) replied, “I know that you are showing disdain, or holding aloof in regard for your reputation.”
گفت او با خود که آن طعمه‌ی توست ** که از آن اجزای تو زنده و نوست
He (the gazelle) said to himself, “That (which you offer me) is your food, whereby your limbs are revived and renewed.
من الیف مرغزاری بوده‌ام ** در زلال و روضه‌ها آسوده‌ام
I have been familiar with a (beauteous) pasture, I have reposed amongst (rivulets of) clear water and meadows.
گر قضا انداخت ما را در عذاب ** کی رود آن خو و طبع مستطاب
If Destiny has cast me into torment, (yet) how should that goodly disposition and nature depart (from me)?
گر گدا گشتم گدارو کی شوم ** ور لباسم کهنه گردد من نوم
If I have become a beggar, (yet) how should I have the face (impudence and greed) of a beggar? And if my (bodily) raiment become old, (yet) I am (spiritually) new.
سنبل و لاله و سپرغم نیز هم ** با هزاران ناز و نفرت خورده‌ام 920
I have eaten hyacinth and anemone and sweet basil too with a thousand disdains and disgusts.”