تشنه را گر ذوق آید از سراب ** چون رسد در وی گریزد جوید آب‌‌

Although the thirsty man is delighted by the mirage, he runs away when he comes up to it, and seeks for water.

مفلسان هم خوش شوند از زر قلب ** لیک آن رسوا شود در دار ضرب‌‌

Moreover, the insolent are pleased with base gold, yet that (gold) is put to shame in the mint.

تا زر اندودیت از ره نفگند ** تا خیال کژ ترا چه نفگند

(Take heed) lest gildedness (imposture) cast you out of the (right) way, lest false imagination cast you into the well.

از کلیله باز جو آن قصه را ** و اندر آن قصه طلب کن حصه را

Seek the story (illustrating this) from (the book of) Kalíla (and Dimna), and search out the moral (contained) in the story.

بیان توکل و ترک جهد گفتن نخجیران به شیر

Setting forth how the beasts of chase told the lion to trust in God and cease from exerting himself.

طایفه‌‌ی نخجیر در وادی خوش ** بودشان از شیر دایم کش مکش‌‌ 900

A number of beasts of chase in a pleasant valley were continually harassed by a lion.

بس که آن شیر از کمین درمی‌‌ربود ** آن چرا بر جمله ناخوش گشته بود

Inasmuch as the lion was (springing) from ambush and carrying them away, that pasturage had become unpleasant to them all.

حیله کردند آمدند ایشان بشیر ** کز وظیفه ما ترا داریم سیر

They made a plot: they came to the lion, saying, “We will keep thee full-fed by means of a (fixed) allowance.

بعد از این اندر پی صیدی میا ** تا نگردد تلخ بر ما این گیا

Henceforth do not come in quest of any prey in order that this grass may not become bitter to us.”

جواب گفتن شیر نخجیران را و فایده‌‌ی جهد گفتن‌‌

How the lion answered the beasts and explained the advantage of exertion.

گفت آری گر وفا بینم نه مکر ** مکرها بس دیده‌‌ام از زید و بکر

“Yes,” said he, “if I see (find) good faith (on your part), not fraud, for often have I seen (suffered) frauds from Zayd and Bakr.

من هلاک فعل و مکر مردمم ** من گزیده‌‌ی زخم مار و کژدمم‌‌ 905

I am done to death by the cunning and fraud of men, I am bitten by the sting of (human) snake and scorpion;