گر ندیدی جنس خود کی آمدی ** کی به غیر جنس خود را بر زدی2100
Had he not seen (in me) one of his own kind, how should he have approached? How should he have thrown himself upon (attached himself to) one of another kind?”
چون دو کس بر هم زند بیهیچ شک ** در میانشان هست قدر مشترک
When two persons come into touch with each other, without any doubt there is something in common between them.
کی پرد مرغی مگر با جنس خود ** صحبت ناجنس گور است و لحد
How should a bird fly except with its own kind? The society of the uncongenial is the grave and the tomb.
سبب پریدن و چریدن مرغی با مرغی که جنس او نبود
The cause of a bird's flying and feeding with a bird that is not of its own kind.
آن حکیمی گفت دیدم هم تکی ** در بیابان زاغ را با لکلکی
Said a certain sage, “I saw a crow running about in the desert with a stork.
در عجب ماندم بجستم حالشان ** تا چه قدر مشترک یابم نشان
I marvelled long, and I investigated their case, in order that I might find the clue (as to) what it was that they had in common.
چون شدم نزدیک، من حیران و دنگ ** خود بدیدم هر دوان بودند لنگ2105
When, amazed and bewildered, I approached them, (then) indeed I saw that both of them were lame.”
خاصه شهبازی که او عرشی بود ** با یکی جغدی که او فرشی بود
In particular, (how should) a royal falcon, which is of the highest heaven, (consort) with an owl, which is of the low earth?
آن یکی خورشید علیین بود ** وین دگر خفاش کز سجین بود
That one is the sun of ‘Illiyyún, while the other is a bat which belongs to Sijjín.
آن یکی نوری ز هر عیبی بری ** وین یکی کوری گدای هر دری
That one is a luminary, free from every defect, while this (other) one is a blind man begging at every door.
آن یکی ماهی که بر پروین زند ** وین یکی کرمی که در سرگین زید
That one is a moon that strikes (its beams) upon the Pleiades, while this (other) one is a worm that lives in dung.
آن یکی یوسف رخی عیسی نفس ** وین یکی گرگی و یا خر با جرس2110
That one has the face of a Joseph, the breath of a Jesus, while this (other) one is a wolf or an ass with a bell.
آن یکی پران شده در لا مکان ** وین یکی در کاهدان همچون سگان
That one has flown to Spacelessness, while this (other) one is in the straw-barn, like the dogs.
با زبان معنوی گل با جعل ** این همیگوید که ای گنده بغل
With the tongue of (unspoken) meaning the rose is saying to the beetle this—“O stinking (creature),
If thou art fleeing from the rose-bed, doubtless that aversion (shown by thee) is (a sign of) the perfection of the rose-garden.
غیرت من بر سر تو دور باش ** میزند کای خس از اینجا دور باش
My jealousy (sense of dignity) smites thee on the head with a baton, (warning thee to) keep far away from here, O vile one;
ور بیامیزی تو با من ای دنی ** این گمان آید که از کان منی2115
For if, base wretch, thou shouldst mix with me, it will be thought that thou art of my stock.
بلبلان را جای میزیبد چمن ** مر جعل را در چمین خوشتر وطن
For nightingales the garden is the proper place; for the beetle the best home is in ordure.”
حق مرا چون از پلیدی پاک داشت ** چون سزد بر من پلیدی را گماشت
Since God has kept me pure from filth, how were it seemly to appoint a foul one for (companionship with) me?
یک رگم ز ایشان بد و آن را برید ** در من آن بد رگ کجا خواهد رسید
I had (in me) a vein of them (of their nature). He (God) cut it out: how (then) will he with the vein of evil attain unto me?
یک نشان آدم آن بود از ازل ** که ملایک سر نهندش از محل
One mark of Adam from eternity was this, that the angels should lay their heads (on the ground) before him, because it was his place (proper to his dignity).
یک نشان دیگر آن که آن بلیس ** ننهدش سر که منم شاه و رئیس2120
Another mark was that Iblís, saying, “I am the king and chief,” should not lay down his head before him.
پس اگر ابلیس هم ساجد شدی ** او نبودی آدم او غیری بدی
If, then, Iblís too had become a worshipper (of Adam), he (Adam) would not have been Adam: he would have been another.
هم سجود هر ملک میزان اوست ** هم جحود آن عدو برهان اوست
At once the worship of every angel is the test of him, and the denial (of him) by that enemy (Iblís) is the proof of him.
هم گواه اوست اقرار ملک ** هم گواه اوست کفران سگک
At once the acknowledgment (made) by the angels is witness for him, and the disbelief of that petty cur (Iblís) is witness for him.
تتمه اعتماد آن مغرور بر تملق خرس
Conclusion of the (story concerning the) trust of that deluded man in the fawningness of the bear.
شخص خفت و خرس میراندش مگس ** وز ستیز آمد مگس زو باز پس
The man fell asleep, and the bear kept driving away the flies (which were) on him, but in spite of him they soon came back again.
چند بارش راند از روی جوان ** آن مگس زو باز میآمد دوان2125
Several times he drove them from the youth’s face, but soon they came hurrying back once more.
خشمگین شد با مگس خرس و برفت ** بر گرفت از کوه سنگی سخت زفت
The bear was enraged with the flies and went off. He picked up a very big stone from the mountain-side.
سنگ آورد و مگس را دید باز ** بر رخ خفته گرفته جای ساز
He fetched the stone, and saw the flies again settled comfortably on the face of the sleeper.
بر گرفت آن آسیا سنگ و بزد ** بر مگس تا آن مگس واپس خزد
He took up that millstone and struck at the flies, in order that they might retire.
سنگ روی خفته را خشخاش کرد ** این مثل بر جمله عالم فاش کرد
The stone made powder of the sleeping man’s face, and published to the whole world this adage––.
مهر ابله مهر خرس آمد یقین ** کین او مهر است و مهر اوست کین2130
“The love of a fool is for sure the love of a bear: his hate is love and his love is hate.”
عهد او سست است و ویران و ضعیف ** گفت او زفت و وفای او نحیف
His promise is infirm and corrupt and feeble; his word stout and his performance lean.