زنده زین دعوی بود جان و تنم ** من ازین دعوی چگونه تن زنم 4065
My soul and body are (kept) alive by this boast: how should I refrain from making this boast?
خواب می‌بینم ولی در خواب نه ** مدعی هستم ولی کذاب نه
I am dreaming but I am not asleep; I am a boaster but I am not a liar.
گر مرا صد بار تو گردن زنی ** هم‌چو شمعم بر فروزم روشنی
Though you behead me a hundred times, I am like a candle: I will burn brightly (still).
آتش ار خرمن بگیرد پیش و پس ** شب‌روان را خرمن آن ماه بس
Though the stack (of my existence) catch fire (both) in front and behind, the stack (halo) of that Moon is enough for travellers in the night.
کرده یوسف را نهان و مختبی ** حیلت اخوان ز یعقوب نبی
Joseph was hidden and concealed from Jacob the prophet by the trickery of his brethren.
خفیه کردندش به حیلت‌سازیی ** کرد آخر پیرهن غمازیی 4070
They put him out of sight by an artifice, (but) at last his shirt gave an information.”
آن دو گفتندش نصیحت در سمر ** که مکن ز اخطار خود را بی‌خبر
The two (brothers of the eldest prince) admonished him in converse, saying, “Do not ignore the dangers.
هین منه بر ریش‌های ما نمک ** هین مخور این زهر بر جلدی و شک
Hark, do not put salt on our wounds! Beware, do not drink this poison rashly and in doubt (of the consequences).
جز به تدبیر یکی شیخی خبیر ** چون روی چون نبودت قلبی بصیر
How canst thou go without being counselled by a wise Shaykh, since thou hast not a discerning heart?
وای آن مرغی که ناروییده پر ** بر پرد بر اوج و افتد در خطر
Woe to the unfledged bird that flies up to the zenith and falls into peril!”
عقل باشد مرد را بال و پری ** چون ندارد عقل عقل رهبری 4075
Intelligence is wings and feathers to a man: when he lacks intelligence, (he must rely on) the intelligence of a guide.
یا مظفر یا مظفرجوی باش ** یا نظرور یا نظرورجوی باش
Either be victorious or in search of a victor: either have insight or be in search of one endowed with insight.
بی ز مفتاح خرد این قرع باب ** از هوا باشد نه از روی صواب
Without (possession of) the key, namely, intelligence, this knocking at the door is prompted by self-will, not by right motives.
عالمی در دام می‌بین از هوا ** وز جراحت‌های هم‌رنگ دوا
See a whole world ensnared by self-will and by wounds (harmful things) that look like remedies (beneficial things).
مار استادست بر سینه چو مرگ ** در دهانش بهر صید اشگرف برگ
The snake, (terrible) as death, stands (raises itself) on its breast, with a big leaf in its mouth in order to catch its prey.
در حشایش چون حشیشی او بپاست ** مرغ پندارد که او شاخ گیاست 4080
It stands erect, like a herb, amidst the herbage, (so that) the bird thinks it is the stalk of a plant.
چون نشیند بهر خور بر روی برگ ** در فتد اندر دهان مار و مرگ
When it (the bird) settles on the leaf for the purpose of eating, it falls into the mouth of the snake and (into the jaws of) death.
کرده تمساحی دهان خویش باز ** گرد دندانهاش کرمان دراز
A crocodile opens its mouth: its teeth are surrounded by long worms.
از بقیه‌ی خور که در دندانش ماند ** کرم‌ها رویید و بر دندان نشاند
The worms were produced by the residue of food left in its teeth; and it gave them lodging there.
مرغکان بینند کرم و قوت را ** مرج پندارند آن تابوت را
The little birds see the worms and the food and imagine that coffin to be a meadow.
چون دهان پر شد ز مرغ او ناگهان ** در کشدشان و فرو بندد دهان 4085
When its mouth is filled with birds, it suddenly swallows them and closes its mouth (again).
این جهان پر ز نقل و پر ز نان ** چون دهان باز آن تمساح دان
Know that this world full of dessert (viands) and bread is like the open mouth of the crocodile.
بهر کرم و طعمه ای روزی‌تراش ** از فن تمساح دهر آمن مباش
O thou who scrapest together the means of livelihood, (in thy desire) for worms and morsels do not feel secure from the artfulness of the crocodile, (which is) Time.
روبه افتد پهن اندر زیر خاک ** بر سر خاکش حبوب مکرناک
A fox falls (and lies) flat under his earth: above his earth are deceptive grains,
تا بیاید زاغ غافل سوی آن ** پای او گیرد به مکر آن مکردان
In order that the heedless crow may approach them and the crafty one cunningly seize her by the leg.