گاو کوهی و بز و خرگوش زفت ** یافتند و کار ایشان پیش رفت
They found a mountain-ox and goat and fat hare, and their business went forward (prosperously).
هر که باشد در پی شیر حراب ** کم نیاید روز و شب او را کباب
Whoever is on the heels of him that is a lion in combat, roast-meat does not fail him by day or by night.
چون ز که در بیشه آوردندشان ** کشته و مجروح و اندر خون کشان3025
When they brought them (the animals which they had caught) from the mountains to the jungle, killed and wounded and dragging along in (streams of) blood,
گرگ و روبه را طمع بود اندر آن ** که رود قسمت به عدل خسروان
The wolf and fox hoped that a division (of the prey) would be made according to the justice of emperors.
عکس طمع هر دوشان بر شیر زد ** شیر دانست آن طمعها را سند
The reflexion of the hope of both of them struck the lion: the lion knew (what was) the ground for those hopes.
هر که باشد شیر اسرار و امیر ** او بداند هر چه اندیشد ضمیر
Any one that is the lion and prince of (spiritual) mysteries, he will know all that the conscience thinks.
هین نگه دار ای دل اندیشه جو ** دل ز اندیشه‌‌ی بدی در پیش او
Beware! Guard thyself, O heart disposed to thinking, from any evil thought in his presence.
داند و خر را همی‌‌راند خموش ** در رخت خندد برای روی‌‌پوش3030
He knows and keeps riding on silently: he smiles in thy face in order to mask (his feelings).
شیر چون دانست آن وسواسشان ** وانگفت و داشت آن دم پاسشان
When the lion perceived their bad ideas, he did not declare (his knowledge), and paid (courteous) regard (to them) at the time,
لیک با خود گفت بنمایم سزا ** مر شما را ای خسیسان گدا
But he said to himself, “I will show you what (chastisement) ye deserve, O beggarly villains!
مر شما را بس نیامد رای من ** ظنتان این است در اعطای من
Was my judgement not enough for you? Is this your opinion of my bounty,
ای عقول و رایتان از رای من ** از عطاهای جهان آرای من
O ye whose understanding and judgement are (derived) from my judgement and from my world-adorning gifts?
نقش با نقاش چه سگالد دگر ** چون سگالش اوش بخشید و خبر3035
What else (but good) should the picture think of the painter, since he bestowed thought and knowledge upon it?
این چنین ظن خسیسانه به من ** مر شما را بود ننگان زمن
Had ye such a vile opinion of me, O ye who are a scandal to the world?
ظانین بالله ظن السوء را ** گر نبرم سر بود عین خطا
If I should not behead them that think ill of God, it would be the essence of wrong.
وارهانم چرخ را از ننگتان ** تا بماند بر جهان این داستان
I will deliver the Sphere (of Time) from your disgrace, so that this tale shall remain in the world (as a warning).”
شیر با این فکر می‌‌زد خنده فاش ** بر تبسمهای شیر ایمن مباش
While thus meditating, the lion continued to smile visibly: do not trust the smiles of the lion!
مال دنیا شد تبسمهای حق ** کرد ما را مست و مغرور و خلق3040
Worldly wealth is (like) the smiles of God: it has made us drunken and vainglorious and threadbare (deprived of the means of salvation).
فقر و رنجوری به استت ای سند ** کان تبسم دام خود را بر کند
Poverty and distress are better for thee, O lord, for (then) that smile will remove its lure.
امتحان کردن شیر گرگ را و گفتن که پیش آی ای گرگ بخش کن صیدها را میان ما
How the lion made trial of the wolf and said, “Come forward, O wolf, and divide the prey amongst us.”
گفت شیر ای گرگ این را بخش کن ** معدلت را نو کن ای گرگ کهن
The lion said, “O wolf, divide this (prey): O old wolf, make justice new (give it new life by thy example).
نایب من باش در قسمت‌‌گری ** تا پدید آید که تو چه گوهری
Be my deputy in the office of distributor, that it may be seen of what substance thou art.”
گفت ای شه گاو وحشی بخش تست ** آن بزرگ و تو بزرگ و زفت و چست
“O King,” said he, “the wild ox is thy share: he is big, and thou art big and strong and active.
بز مرا که بز میانه ست و وسط ** روبها خرگوش بستان بی‌‌غلط3045
The goat is mine, for the goat is middle and intermediate; do thou, O fox, receive the hare, and no mistake!”
شیر گفت ای گرگ چون گفتی بگو ** چون که من باشم تو گویی ما و تو
The lion said, “O wolf, how hast thou spoken? Say! When I am here, dost thou speak of ‘I’ and ‘thou’?
گرگ خود چه سگ بود کاو خویش دید ** پیش چون من شیر بی‌‌مثل و ندید
Truly, what a cur the wolf must be, that he regarded himself in the presence of a lion like me who am peerless and unrivalled!”