باز می‌گفت او که گر این بار من ** وا رهم زین محنت گردن‌شکن

Then again he was saying, “If this time I escape from this neck-breaking affliction,

من نسازم جز به دریایی وطن ** آبگیری را نسازم من سکن 2285

I will not make my home except in a sea: I will not make a lake my dwelling-place.

آب بی‌حد جویم و آمن شوم ** تا ابد در امن و صحت می‌روم

I will seek the boundless sea and become safe: I will go in safety and welfare for ever.”

بیان آنک عهد کردن احمق وقت گرفتاری و ندم هیچ وفایی ندارد کی لو ردوالعادوا لما نهوا عنه و انهم لکاذبون صبح کاذب وفا ندارد

Explaining that the promise made by the fool at the moment of seizure (punishment) and contrition is faithless, for though they should be sent back, they would surely return to that which they were forbidden to do, and verily they are liars. The false dawn keeps not faith.

عقل می‌گفتش حماقت با توست ** با حماقت عقل را آید شکست

Reason was saying to him, “Folly is with thee: with Folly (as thy companion), the promise will be broken.

عقل را باشد وفای عهدها ** تو نداری عقل رو ای خربها

The keeping of promises appertains to reason: thou hast not reason: begone, O thou whose value is that of an ass!

عقل را یاد آید از پیمان خود ** پرده‌ی نسیان بدراند خرد

Reason remembers its covenant: understanding rends the veil of forgetfulness.

چونک عقلت نیست نسیان میر تست ** دشمن و باطل کن تدبیر تست 2290

Since thou hast not reason, forgetfulness is thy ruler: it is thy enemy and the bringer-to-naught of thy devising.”

از کمی عقل پروانه‌ی خسیس ** یاد نارد ز آتش و سوز و حسیس

From deficiency of reason the wretched moth does not re member the flame and the burning and the (crackling) sound (when its wings are scorched).

چونک پرش سوخت توبه می‌کند ** آز و نسیانش بر آتش می‌زند

When its wings are burnt, it repents; (but) cupidity and forgetfulness dash it (again) into the flame.

ضبط و درک و حافظی و یادداشت ** عقل را باشد که عقل آن را فراشت

Grasp and apprehension and retentiveness and keeping in mind belong to Reason, for Reason has raised those (faculties).