نه که مخلوق توم گیرم خرم ** از چه زار و پشت ریش و لاغرم
Am not I Thy creature? I grant that I am an ass, (but) wherefore am I wretched, with sores on my back, and lean?
شب ز درد پشت و از جوع شکم ** آرزومندم به مردن دم به دم
At night, because of the pain in my back and the (pangs of) hunger in my belly, I am always wishing to die.
حال این اسپان چنین خوش با نوا ** من چه مخصوصم به تعذیب و بلا
These horses are so happy and prosperous: why am I singled out for torment and tribulation?”
ناگهان آوازه‌ی پیگار شد ** تازیان را وقت زین و کار شد 2375
Suddenly came the rumour of war: ’twas the time for the Arab horses to be saddled and brought into action.
زخمهای تیر خوردند از عدو ** رفت پیکانها دریشان سو به سو
They were wounded with arrows by the foe: the barbs entered them on every side.
از غزا باز آمدند آن تازیان ** اندر آخر جمله افتاده ستان
(When) those Arab horses returned from the campaign, they all fell down and lay on their backs in the stable.
پایهاشان بسته محکم با نوار ** نعلبندان ایستاده بر قطار
Their legs were tightly bandaged with (strips of) canvas: the farriers were standing in file,
می‌شکافیدند تن‌هاشان بنیش ** تا برون آرند پیکانها ز ریش
Piercing their bodies with the scalpel in order to extract the barbs from their wounds.
آن خر آن را دید و می‌گفت ای خدا ** من به فقر و عافیت دادم رضا 2380
The ass saw (all) that, and was saying, “O God, I am satisfied with poverty and health.
زان نوا بیزارم و زان زخم زشت ** هرکه خواهد عافیت دنیا بهشت
I have no taste for that (plentiful) food and those hideous wounds.” Every one who desires (spiritual) health abandons the world.
ناپسندیدن روباه گفتن خر را کی من راضیم به قسمت
How the fox disapproved of the saying of the ass, “I am satisfied with my lot.”
گفت روبه جستن رزق حلال ** فرض باشد از برای امتثال
The fox said, “It is an (indispensable) obligation to seek lawful provision in obedience (to the Divine command).
عالم اسباب و چیزی بی‌سبب ** می‌نباید پس مهم باشد طلب
(This) is the world of means: nothing is obtained without a means: therefore it is important (necessary) to seek (provision).
وابتغوا من فضل الله است امر ** تا نباید غصب کردن هم‌چو نمر
‘And seek ye of the bounty of God’ is (a Divine) command, lest they (men) should seize (the property of others) by violence, like the leopard.
گفت پیغامبر که بر رزق ای فتی ** در فرو بسته‌ست و بر در قفلها 2385
The Prophet hath said, ‘The door is shut against (the arrival of) provision, O youth; and on the door there are locks.’
جنبش و آمد شد ما و اکتساب ** هست مفتاحی بر آن قفل و حجاب
Our movement (exertion) and our going to and fro (in search) and our acquisition is a key to that lock and barrier.
بی‌کلید این در گشادن راه نیست ** بی‌طلب نان سنت الله نیست
Without the key there is no way to open the door: bread without endeavour is not (according to) God's law.”
جواب گفتن خر روباه را
How the ass answered the fox.
گفت از ضعف توکل باشد آن ** ورنه بدهد نان کسی که داد جان
He (the ass) replied, “That is (the result) of weak faith; else He who gave (us) life (also) gives (us) bread.
هر که جوید پادشاهی و ظفر ** کم نیاید لقمه‌ی نان ای پسر
Whoever seeks (spiritual) sovereignty and victory, a mouthful of bread will not fail (him), O son.
دام و دد جمله همه اکال رزق ** نه پی کسپ‌اند نه حمال رزق 2390
All wild animals, both the herbivorous and the predatory, are devourers of the (Divine) provision: they neither go in quest of work (to get a livelihood) nor do they support (the burden of) providing (for themselves).
جمله را رزاق روزی می‌دهد ** قسمت هر یک به پیشش می‌نهد
The Provider gives their daily bread to all: He lays before each one the portion allotted to him.
رزق آید پیش هر که صبر جست ** رنج کوششها ز بی‌صبری تست
The (Divine) provision comes to every one who seeks (to show) patience: the trouble of making efforts arises from your want of patience.”
جواب گفتن روبه خر را
How the fox answered the ass.
گفت روبه آن توکل نادرست ** کم کسی اندر توکل ماهرست
The fox replied, “Such trust in God is exceptional: few are proficient in (the practice of) trust in God.
گرد نادر گشتن از نادانی است ** هر کسی را کی ره سلطانی است
’Tis (a mark of) ignorance to concern one's self with the exceptional: how is the King's highway (available) for every one?
چون قناعت را پیمبر گنج گفت ** هر کسی را کی رسد گنج نهفت 2395
Since the Prophet hath said that contentment is a treasure, how should the hidden treasure be gained by every one?
حد خود بشناس و بر بالا مپر ** تا نیفتی در نشیب شور و شر
Recognise your (proper) limit and do not fly aloft, lest you fall into the abyss of woe and bane.”