این چنین مه را ز اختر ننگهاست ** او میان اختران بهر سخاست
A moon like this is disgraced by the stars: it is amongst the stars for generosity's sake.
امر شاورهم پیمبر را رسید ** گر چه رایی نیست رایش را ندید
The (Divine) command, Consult them, came to the Prophet, though no counsel is to be compared with his own.
در ترازو جو رفیق زر شده ست ** نی از آن که جو چو زر گوهر شده ست3020
In the scales barley has become the companion of gold, (but that is) not because barley has become a substance like gold.
روح قالب را کنون همره شده ست ** مدتی سگ حارس درگه شده ست
The spirit has now become the body's fellow-traveller: the dog has become for a time the guardian of the palace-gate.
چون که رفتند این جماعت سوی کوه ** در رکاب شیر با فر و شکوه
When this party (the wolf and fox) went to the mountains at the stirrup (side) of the lion majestic and grand,
گاو کوهی و بز و خرگوش زفت ** یافتند و کار ایشان پیش رفت
They found a mountain-ox and goat and fat hare, and their business went forward (prosperously).
هر که باشد در پی شیر حراب ** کم نیاید روز و شب او را کباب
Whoever is on the heels of him that is a lion in combat, roast-meat does not fail him by day or by night.
چون ز که در بیشه آوردندشان ** کشته و مجروح و اندر خون کشان3025
When they brought them (the animals which they had caught) from the mountains to the jungle, killed and wounded and dragging along in (streams of) blood,
گرگ و روبه را طمع بود اندر آن ** که رود قسمت به عدل خسروان
The wolf and fox hoped that a division (of the prey) would be made according to the justice of emperors.
عکس طمع هر دوشان بر شیر زد ** شیر دانست آن طمعها را سند
The reflexion of the hope of both of them struck the lion: the lion knew (what was) the ground for those hopes.