دین نه آن باز است کاو از شه گریخت ** سوی آن کمپیر کاو می‏آرد بیخت‏

Religion is not (like) the falcon that fled from the King to the old crone who was sifting flour

تا که تتماجی پزد اولاد را ** دید آن باز خوش خوش زاد را

That she might cook tutmáj for her children. (When) she saw the beautiful well-born falcon,

پایکش بست و پرش کوتاه کرد ** ناخنش ببرید و قوتش کاه کرد 325

She tied its little foot and clipped its wings; she cut its talons and fed it with straw.

گفت نااهلان نکردندت به ساز ** پر فزود از حد و ناخن شد دراز

“Unworthy folk,” said she, “have not kept thee in (good) trim: thy wings are overgrown and thy talons have become long.

دست هر نااهل بیمارت کند ** سوی مادر آ که تیمارت کند

Every unworthy one's hand makes thee ill: come to thy mother that she may take care of thee.”

مهر جاهل را چنین دان ای رفیق ** کژ رود جاهل همیشه در طریق‏

Know, O friend, that such is the affection of the fool: the fool ever walks crookedly on the way.

روز شه در جستجو بی‏گاه شد ** سوی آن کمپیر و آن خرگاه شد

The King's day became late (far-spent) in searching (for the falcon): he went (at last) to the old woman and the tent (where she lived).

دید ناگه باز را در دود و گرد ** شه بر او بگریست زار و نوحه کرد 330

Suddenly he espied the falcon amidst smoke and dust: the King wept sorely over it and made lament.

گفت هر چند این جز ای کار تست ** که نباشی در وفای ما درست‏

He said, “Albeit this is the retribution for thy deed, in that thou art not firm in keeping faith with me,

چون کنی از خلد زی دوزخ فرار ** غافل از لا یستوی اصحاب نار

(Yet) how shouldst thou take flight from Paradise to Hell, heedless of (the text) the people of the Fire (and those of Paradise) are not equal?