مغز خر خوردیم تا ما چون شما ** پشه را داریم همراز هما2735
Have we eaten ass's brains that we, like you, should deem a gnat to be the confidant of the humá?
کو هما کو پشه کو گل کو خدا ** ز آفتاب چرخ چه بود ذره را
Where is a gnat in comparison with the humá? Where is earth in comparison with God? What relation to the mote has the sun in the sky?
این چه نسبت این چه پیوندی بود ** تاکه در عقل و دماغی در رود
What resemblance is this, and what connexion is this, that it should enter into any mind and brain?
حکایت خرگوشان کی خرگوشی راپیش پیل فرستادند کی بگو کی من رسول ماه آسمانم پیش تو کی ازین چشمه آب حذر کن چنانک در کتاب کلیله تمام گفته است
Story of the hares who sent a hare as ambassador to the elephant, bidding him say, ‘I come to thee as the ambassador of the Moon in heaven to bid thee beware of (drinking from) this water-spring,’ as is told in full in the Book of Kalíla (and Dimna).
این بدان ماند که خرگوشی بگفت ** من رسول ماهم و با ماه جفت
This (claim made by you) resembles the saying of a certain hare—‘I am the ambassador of the Moon and companion to the Moon.’
کز رمه‌ی پیلان بر آن چشمه‌ی زلال ** جمله نخجیران بدند اندر وبال
For all the beasts of chase were in woe on account of a herd of elephants (dwelling) beside that limpid spring;
جمله محروم و ز خوف از چشمه دور ** حیله‌ای کردند چون کم بود زور2740
All were deprived (of water) and (were kept) far from the spring by dread: since (their) strength was inferior, they made a plot.
از سر که بانگ زد خرگوش زال ** سوی پیلان در شب غره‌ی هلال
From the mountain-top the old hare cried towards the elephants on the first night of the new-moon—
که بیا رابع عشر ای شاه‌پیل ** تا درون چشمه یابی این دلیل
‘Come on the fourteenth, O king elephant, that thou mayst find within the spring the proof of this (assertion).
شاه‌پیلا من رسولم پیش بیست ** بر رسولان بند و زجر و خشم نیست
O king elephant, I am the ambassador in thy presence. Stop! Ambassadors are not subjected to imprisonment and violence and wrath.
ماه می‌گوید که ای پیلان روید ** چشمه آن ماست زین یکسو شوید
The Moon says, “O elephants, depart! The spring is mine, turn aside from it;
And if (ye depart) not, I will make you blind. I have declared the wrong (which ye are doing) and have thrown off my neck (all responsibility for what will happen if ye trespass farther).
ترک این چشمه بگویید و روید ** تا ز زخم تیغ مه آمن شوید
Take leave of this spring and depart, that ye may be safe from the blows of the Moon's sword.”
نک نشان آنست کاندر چشمه ماه ** مضطرب گردد ز پیل آب‌خواه
Lo, the token (of my veracity) is that the Moon (reflected) in the spring will be disturbed by the water-craving elephant.
آن فلان شب حاضر آ ای شاه‌پیل ** تا درون چشمه یابی زین دلیل
Come and be present on the such-and-such a night, O king elephant, in order that within the spring thou mayst find the proof of this (assertion).’
چونک هفت و هشت از مه بگذرید ** شاه‌پیل آمد ز چشمه می‌چرید
When seven and eight (fifteen nights) of the month had passed, the king elephant came to drink from the spring.
چونک زد خرطوم پیل آن شب درآب ** مضطرب شد آب ومه کرد اضطراب2750
When on that night the elephant put his trunk in the water, the water was disturbed, and the Moon showed disturbance.
پیل باور کرد از وی آن خطاب ** چون درون چشمه مه کرد اضطراب
The elephant believed that speech of his (the hare's), when the Moon in the spring showed disturbance.
مانه زان پیلان گولیم ای گروه ** که اضطراب ماه آردمان شکوه
O company (of prophets), we are not (to be reckoned) among those stupid elephants who are terrified by the disturbance of the Moon.”
انبیا گفتند آوه پند جان ** سخت‌تر کرد ای سفیهان بندتان
The prophets said, “Ah, (our) spiritual admonition has (only) made your (carnal) bondage more grievous, O ye fools!
جواب گفتن انبیا طعن ایشان را و مثل زدن ایشان را
How the prophets answered their sneers and uttered parables unto them.
ای دریغا که دوا در رنجتان ** گشت زهر قهر جان آهنجتان
Oh, alas that in (the case of) your disease the remedy has become for you the poison of soul-wringing (Divine) vengeance.
ظلمت افزود این چراغ آن چشم را ** چون خدا بگماشت پرده‌ی خشم را2755
This lamp (of spiritual admonition) has increased the darkness of that (diseased) eye, since God has set (over it) the veil of wrath.
چه رئیسی جست خواهیم از شما ** که ریاستمان فزونست از سما
What dominion shall we crave from you? for our dominion is greater than the sky.”
چه شرف یابد ز کشتی بحر در ** خاصه کشتیی ز سرگین گشته پر
What glory should the sea of pearls acquire from the ship— especially a ship that has been filled with dung?
ای دریغ آن دیده‌ی کور و کبود ** آفتابی اندرو ذره نمود
Oh, alas for that eye blind and blear! Therein a sun seemed as (insignificant as) a mote.
ز آدمی که بود بی مثل و ندید ** دیده ابلیس جز طینی ندید
In an Adam who was without like or equal the eye of Iblís discerned naught but a piece of clay.