خواجه باز آمد به خود گفتا که هین ** باز گو آن پند خوب سیومین

The Khwája came back to himself (recovered his wits) and said, “Hark, disclose the third (piece of) excellent counsel.”

گفت آری خوش عمل کردی بدان ** تا بگویم پند ثالث رایگان

“Yes,” said the bird, “thou hast made good use of those (former counsels), that I should tell (thee) the third counsel in vain!”

پند گفتن با جهول خوابناک ** تخت افکندن بود در شوره خاک

To give counsel to a sleepy ignoramus is to scatter seed in nitrous soil.

چاک حمق و جهل نپذیرد رفو ** تخم حکمت کم دهش ای پندگو 2265

The rent of folly and ignorance does not admit of being patched up: do not give the seed of wisdom to him (the fool), O counsellor.

چاره اندیشیدن آن ماهی نیم‌عاقل و خود را مرده کردن

How the half-intelligent fish devised a means (of escape) and feigned to be dead.

گفت ماهی دگر وقت بلا ** چونک ماند از سایه‌ی عاقل جدا

The second fish said in the hour of tribulation, when he was left sundered from the shadow (protection) of the intelligent one,

کو سوی دریا شد و از غم عتیق ** فوت شد از من چنان نیکو رفیق

“He hath gone towards the sea and is freed from sorrow: such a good comrade hath been lost to me!

لیک زان نندیشم و بر خود زنم ** خویشتن را این زمان مرده کنم

But I will not think of that and will attend to myself: at this (present) time I will feign to be dead.

پس برآرم اشکم خود بر زبر ** پشت زیر و می‌روم بر آب بر

Then I will turn my belly upwards and my back downwards and will move on the water.

می‌روم بر وی چنانک خس رود ** نی بسباحی چنانک کس رود 2270

I will move upon it as weeds move, not by swimming as a person (swimmer) does.

مرده گردم خویش بسپارم به آب ** مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست از عذاب

I will become dead, I will commit myself to the water: to die before death is to be safe from torment.”