گفت ای یاران مرا مهلت دهید ** تا به مکرم از بلا بیرون جهید1000
“O friends,” said he, “grant me a respite, that by my cunning ye may escape from calamity,
تا امان یابد به مکرم جانتان ** ماند این میراث فرزندانتان
That by my cunning your lives may be saved and this (safety) remain as a heritage to your children.”
هر پیمبر امتان را در جهان ** همچنین تا مخلصی می‌‌خواندشان
After this manner every prophet in the world used to call the peoples to a place of deliverance,
کز فلک راه برون شو دیده بود ** در نظر چون مردمک پیچیده بود
For he had seen from Heaven the way of escape, (though) in (their) sight he was contracted (despicable) like the pupil of the eye.
مردمش چون مردمک دیدند خرد ** در بزرگی مردمک کس ره نبرد
Men regarded him as small like the pupil: none attained to (understanding of) the (real) greatness (worth) of the pupil.
اعتراض نخجیران بر سخن خرگوش
How the beasts objected to the proposal of the hare.
قوم گفتندش که ای خر گوش دار ** خویش را اندازه‌‌ی خرگوش دار1005
The company (of beasts) said to him: “O donkey, listen (to us)! Keep thyself within the measure of a hare!
هین چه لاف است این که از تو بهتران ** در نیاوردند اندر خاطر آن
Eh, what brag is this—(an idea) which thy betters never brought into their minds?
معجبی یا خود قضامان در پی است ** ور نه این دم لایق چون تو کی است
Thou art self-conceited, or Destiny is pursuing us; else, how is this speech suitable to one like thee?
جواب خرگوش نخجیران را
How the hare again answered the beasts.
گفت ای یاران حقم الهام داد ** مر ضعیفی را قوی رایی فتاد
He said: “O friends, God gave me inspiration: to a weakling there came a strong judgement (wise counsel).”
آن چه حق آموخت مر زنبور را ** آن نباشد شیر را و گور را
That which God taught to the bees is not (belonging) to the lion and the wild ass.
خانه‌‌ها سازد پر از حلوای تر ** حق بر او آن علم را بگشاد در1010
It (the bee) makes houses of juicy halwá (sweetmeat): God opened to it the door of that knowledge;
آن چه حق آموخت کرم پیله را ** هیچ پیلی داند آن گون حیله را
That which God taught to the silkworm—does any elephant know such a device?
آدم خاکی ز حق آموخت علم ** تا به هفتم آسمان افروخت علم
Adam, created of earth, learned knowledge from God: (his) knowledge shot beams up to the Seventh Heaven.
نام و ناموس ملک را در شکست ** کوری آن کس که در حق درشک است
He (Adam) broke the name and fame (pride) of the angels, to the confusion of that one who is in doubt concerning God.
زاهد چندین هزاران ساله را ** پوز بندی ساخت آن گوساله را
He (God) made the ascetic of six hundred thousand years (Iblís) a muzzle for that young calf (Adam),
تا نتاند شیر علم دین کشید ** تا نگردد گرد آن قصر مشید1015
That he (Adam) might not be able to drink the milk of knowledge of religion, and that he might not roam around that lofty castle.
علمهای اهل حس شد پوز بند ** تا نگیرد شیر ز آن علم بلند
The sciences of the followers of (external) sense became a muzzle, so that he (the believer in sense-perception) might not receive milk from that sublime knowledge.
قطره‌‌ی دل را یکی گوهر فتاد ** کان به دریاها و گردونها نداد
(But) into the blood-drop (core) of the heart there fell a jewel which He (God) gave not to the seas and skies.
چند صورت آخر ای صورت پرست ** جان بی‌‌معنیت از صورت نرست
How long (this regard for) form? After all, O form-worshipper, has thy reality-lacking soul not (yet) escaped from form?
گر به صورت آدمی انسان بدی ** احمد و بو جهل خود یکسان بدی
If a human being were a man in virtue of form, Ahmad (Mohammed) and Bú Jahl would be just the same.
نقش بر دیوار مثل آدم است ** بنگر از صورت چه چیز او کم است1020
The painting on the wall is like Adam: see from the (pictured) form what thing in it is wanting.
جان کم است آن صورت با تاب را ** رو بجو آن گوهر کمیاب را
The spirit is wanting in that resplendent form: go, seek that jewel rarely found!
شد سر شیران عالم جمله پست ** چون سگ اصحاب را دادند دست
The heads of all the lions in the world were laid low when They (God) gave a hand to (bestowed favour on) the dog of the Companions (of the Cave).
چه زیان استش از آن نقش نفور ** چون که جانش غرق شد در بحر نور
What loss does it suffer from that abhorred shape, inasmuch as its spirit was plunged in the ocean of light?
وصف صورت نیست اندر خامه‌‌ها ** عالم و عادل بود در نامه‌‌ها
’Tis not in pens to describe (the outward) form: (what is written) in letters is (qualities like) “learned” and “just”;