سالها خوردی و کم نامد ز خور ** ترک مستقبل کن و ماضی نگر
Thou hast eaten for years, and food has never failed: leave the future and look at the past.
لوت و پوت خورده را هم یاد آر ** منگر اندر غابر و کم باش زار
Bring to mind the food and viands thou hast eaten (already): do not regard what is to come, and do not be miserable.
صید کردن شیر آن خر را و تشنه شدن شیر از کوشش رفت به چشمه تا آب خورد تا باز آمدن شیر جگربند و دل و گرده را روباه خورده بود کی لطیفترست شیر طلب کرد دل و جگر نیافت از روبه پرسید کی کو دل و جگر روبه گفت اگر او را دل و جگر بودی آنچنان سیاستی دیده بود آن روز و به هزار حیله جان برده کی بر تو باز آمدی لوکنا نسمع او نعقل ماکنا فی اصحاب السعیر
How the lion made the ass his prey, and being thirsty after his exertions went to the spring to drink. Before his return the fox had eaten the liver together with the lungs, heart, and kidneys, which are the choicest parts. The lion looked for the heart and liver, and when he did not find them asked the fox where they were. The fox replied, “If he had possessed a heart and liver, how should he have come back to thee after receiving such a stern lesson on that day and (only) saving his life by means of a thousand devices?” “If we had hearkened or considered with understanding we should not have been among the fellows of Hell-fire.”
برد خر را روبهک تا پیش شیر ** پاره‌پاره کردش آن شیر دلیر 2870
The little fox brought the ass into the presence of the lion: the courageous lion tore him to pieces.
تشنه شد از کوشش آن سلطان دد ** رفت سوی چشمه تا آبی خورد
The King of the Beasts was made thirsty by his exertions and went to the spring to drink some water.
روبهک خورد آن جگربند و دلش ** آن زمان چون فرصتی شد حاصلش
Meanwhile the little fox, having got an opportunity, ate his (the ass's) liver, lungs, and heart.
شیر چون وا گشت از چشمه به خور ** جست در خر دل نه دل بد نه جگر
When the lion returned from the spring to eat (his prey), he looked in the ass to find the heart, (but) there was neither heart nor liver.
گفت روبه را جگر کو دل چه شد ** که نباشد جانور را زین دو بد
He said to the fox, “Where is the liver? What has become of the heart?—for no animal can do without these two (organs).”
گفت گر بودی ورا دل یا جگر ** کی بدینجا آمدی بار دگر 2875
He (the fox) replied, “If he had possessed a heart or liver, how should he have come here a second time?
آن قیامت دیده بود و رستخیز ** وآن ز کوه افتادن و هول و گریز
He had experienced that tremendous agony and turmoil, the scramble down the mountain, the terror, and the flight;
گر جگر بودی ورا یا دل بدی ** بار دیگر کی بر تو آمدی
If he had had a liver or heart, how could he have come a second time into thy presence?”