ظلمت چه به که ظلمتهای خلق ** سر نبرد آن کس که گیرد پای خلق‌‌

ظلمت چه به که ظلمتهای خلق ** سر نبرد آن کس که گیرد پای خلق‌‌ 1300

The darkness of the well is better than the dark shades of the world: he that followed at the heels of the world never saved his head.

گفت پیش آ زخمم او را قاهر است ** تو ببین کان شیر در چه حاضر است‌‌

“Come on,” said the lion; “my blow subdues him: see thou whether that lion is in the well at present.”

گفت من سوزیده‌‌ام ز آن آتشی ** تو مگر اندر بر خویشم کشی‌‌

The hare answered, “I am consumed with (dread of) that fieriness (wrath): perhaps thou wilt take me beside thee,

تا بپشت تو من ای کان کرم ** چشم بگشایم به چه در بنگرم‌‌

That with thy support, O mine of generosity, I may open my eyes and look into the well.”

نظر کردن شیر در چاه و دیدن عکس خود را و آن خرگوش را

How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.

چون که شیر اندر بر خویشش کشید ** در پناه شیر تا چه می‌‌دوید

When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.

چون که در چه بنگریدند اندر آب ** اندر آب از شیر و او در تافت تاب‌‌ 1305

As soon as they looked at the water in the well, there shone forth in the water the light (reflected) from the lion and him (the hare).

شیر عکس خویش دید از آب تفت ** شکل شیری در برش خرگوش زفت‌‌

The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.

چون که خصم خویش را در آب دید ** مر و را بگذاشت و اندر چه جهید

When he beheld his adversary in the water, he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.

در فتاد اندر چهی کاو کنده بود ** ز آن که ظلمش در سرش آینده بود

He fell into the well which he had dug, because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.

چاه مظلم گشت ظلم ظالمان ** این چنین گفتند جمله عالمان‌‌

The iniquity of evil-doers became (for them) a dark well: so have said all the wise.