از کرم دان این که می‌‌ترساندت ** تا به ملک ایمنی بنشاندت‌‌

Know that this is from the loving kindness (of God), that He terrifies thee in order that He may establish thee in the kingdom of security.

این سخن پایان ندارد گشت دیر ** گوش کن تو قصه‌‌ی خرگوش و شیر

This subject hath no end. ’Tis late. Hearken (now) to the story of the hare and the lion.

پای واپس کشیدن خرگوش از شیر چون نزدیک چاه رسید

How the hare drew back from the lion when he approached the well.

چون که نزد چاه آمد شیر دید ** کز ره آن خرگوش ماند و پا کشید

When the lion came near the well, he saw that the hare lagged on the way and stepped back.

گفت پا واپس کشیدی تو چرا ** پای را واپس مکش پیش اندر آ

He said, “Why have you stepped back? Do not step back, come on!”

گفت کو پایم که دست و پای رفت ** جان من لرزید و دل از جای رفت‌‌ 1265

The hare said, “Where is my (power to move a) foot? for (both) hand and foot are gone. My soul trembles and my heart (courage) has fled.

رنگ رویم را نمی‌‌بینی چو زر ** ز اندرون خود می‌‌دهد رنگم خبر

Seest thou not the colour of my face (pale) as gold? My colour indeed is giving knowledge of my inward state.

حق چو سیما را معرف خوانده است ** چشم عارف سوی سیما مانده است‌‌

Since God has called the (external) sign (aspect) informative, the eye of the gnostic has remained turned towards the sign.

رنگ و بو غماز آمد چون جرس ** از فرس آگه کند بانگ فرس‌‌

Colour and scent are significant like a bell: the neigh of a horse makes (one) acquainted with the horse.

بانگ هر چیزی رساند زو خبر ** تا بدانی بانگ خر از بانگ در

The sound made by any thing conveys knowledge of it, so that you may distinguish the bray of an ass from the creak of a door.

گفت پیغمبر به تمییز کسان ** مرء مخفی لدی طی اللسان‌‌ 1270

Touching the discrimination of persons (one from another), the Prophet said, ‘A man is hidden when his tongue is folded up.’