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?”
چون نباشد نور دل دل نیست آن ** چون نباشد روح جز گل نیست آن
When there is no light in the heart, ’tis no heart; when there is no spirit (in the body), ’tis naught but earth.
آن زجاجی کو ندارد نور جان ** بول و قاروره‌ست قندیلش مخوان
The (heart resembling) glass that hath no spiritual light is (like) urine and the urine-phial: do not call it a lamp.
نور مصباحست داد ذوالجلال ** صنعت خلقست آن شیشه و سفال 2880
The light in the lamp is the gift of the Almighty; the glass and earthenware (vessels) are His creatures' handiwork.
لاجرم در ظرف باشد اعتداد ** در لهبها نبود الا اتحاد
Necessarily in respect of the vessels there is number, (but) in respect of the flames (of light) there is naught but unity.
نور شش قندیل چون آمیختند ** نیست اندر نورشان اعداد و چند
When the light of six lamps is mingled together, there is no number and plurality in their light.
آن جهود از ظرفها مشرک شده‌ست ** نور دید آن مومن و مدرک شده‌ست
The Jew has become a polytheist from (regarding) the vessels; the true believer regarded the light and (consequently) has become endowed with (spiritual) perception.
چون نظر بر ظرف افتد روح را ** پس دو بیند شیث را و نوح را
When the sight falls upon the spirit's vessel, it regards Seth and Noah as being two.
جو که آبش هست جو خود آن بود ** آدمی آنست کو را جان بود 2885
When there is water in it (the canal), (only then) is it (really) a canal: the (real) man is he that hath the spirit (within him).
این نه مردانند اینها صورتند ** مرده‌ی نانند و کشته‌ی شهوتند
These (others) are not men, they are (mere) forms: they are dead with (desire for) bread and killed by appetite.
حکایت آن راهب که روز با چراغ می‌گشت در میان بازار از سر حالتی کی او را بود
Story of the Christian ascetic who went about with a lamp in the daytime in the midst of the bazaar because of the ecstasy which he had (in his heart).
آن یکی با شمع برمی‌گشت روز ** گرد بازاری دلش پر عشق و سوز
That person was going about in a bazaar in the daytime with a candle, his heart full of love and (spiritual) ardour.
بوالفضولی گفت او را کای فلان ** هین چه می‌جویی به سوی هر دکان
A busybody said to him, “Hey, O such-and-such, what are you seeking beside every shop?
هین چه می‌گردی تو جویان با چراغ ** در میان روز روشن چیست لاغ
Hey, why are you going about in search (of something) with a lamp in bright daylight? What is the joke?”
گفت می‌جویم به هر سو آدمی ** که بود حی از حیات آن دمی 2890
He replied, “I am searching everywhere for a man that is alive with the life inspired by that (Divine) Breath.
هست مردی گفت این بازار پر ** مردمانند آخر ای دانای حر
Is there a man in existence?” “This bazaar,” said the other, “is full: surely they are men, O noble sage.”
گفت خواهم مرد بر جاده‌ی دو ره ** در ره خشم و به هنگام شره
He answered, “I want (one who is) a man on the two-wayed road—in the way of anger and at the time of desire.
وقت خشم و وقت شهوت مرد کو ** طالب مردی دوانم کو به کو
Where is (one who is) a man at the moment of anger and at the moment of appetite? In search of (such) a man I am running from street to street.
کو درین دو حال مردی در جهان ** تا فدای او کنم امروز جان
Where in the world is (one who is) a man on these two occasions, that I may devote my life to him to-day?”