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.”

مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست ای فتی ** این چنین فرمود ما را مصطفی

To die before death is to be safe, O youth: even so hath Mustafa (Mohammad) commanded us.

گفت موتواکلکم من قبل ان ** یاتی الموت تموتوا بالفتن

He said, “Die, all of you, ere death come, else ye will die with (the certainty of suffering) sore afflictions (hereafter).”

هم‌چنان مرد و شکم بالا فکند ** آب می‌بردش نشیب و گه بلند

He (the fish) died in that manner and threw his belly upwards: the water was carrying him, now alow, now aloft.

هر یکی زان قاصدان بس غصه برد ** که دریغا ماهی بهتر بمرد 2275

Every one of those pursuers (the fishermen) bore great vexation (in his heart), saying, “Alas, the best fish is dead.”