تا جهان گه صابر است و گه شکور ** بوستان گه حله پوشد گاه عور

So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.

آفتابی کاو بر آید نارگون ** ساعتی دیگر شود او سر نگون‌‌

The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.

اختران تافته بر چار طاق ** لحظه لحظه مبتلای احتراق‌‌

Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.

ماه کاو افزود ز اختر در جمال ** شد ز رنج دق او همچون خیال‌‌ 1280

The moon, which excels the stars in beauty, becomes like a phantom from the malady of a phthisis.

این زمین با سکون با ادب ** اندر آرد زلزله‌‌ش در لرز تب‌‌

This earth, quiet and controlled, is thrown by earthquakes into feverish tremors.

ای بسا که زین بلای مرده‌‌ریگ ** گشته است اندر جهان او خرد و ریگ‌‌

Oh, from this inherited woe many a mountain in the world has become tiny fragments and (grains of) sand.

این هوا با روح آمد مقترن ** چون قضا آید وبا گشت و عفن‌‌

This air is conjoined with the (vital) spirit, (but) when the Divine destiny comes, it turns pestilential and stinking.

آب خوش کاو روح را همشیره شد ** در غدیری زرد و تلخ و تیره شد

The sweet water that was a sister (congenial) to the spirit, (after standing) in a pool, became yellow and bitter and turbid.

آتشی کاو باد دارد در بروت ** هم یکی بادی بر او خواند یموت‌‌ 1285

The fire that has wind in its moustache—a single puff of wind calls death upon it.

حال دریا ز اضطراب و جوش او ** فهم کن تبدیلهای هوش او

The state of the sea (is such that) from its agitation and commotion (you may) perceive the changes of its mind.

چرخ سر گردان که اندر جستجوست ** حال او چون حال فرزندان اوست‌‌

The whirling heaven, which is (ever engaged) in seeking and searching—its state is like the state of its children;

گه حضیض و گه میانه گاه اوج ** اندر او از سعد و نحسی فوج فوج‌‌

Now nadir, now middle, now zenith: therein are host on host of stars fortunate and unlucky.

از خود ای جزوی ز کلها مختلط ** فهم می‌‌کن حالت هر منبسط

From thyself, O part made up of wholes, apprehend the state of every simple (uncompounded) thing.

چون که کلیات را رنج است و درد ** جزو ایشان چون نباشد روی زرد 1290

Inasmuch as wholes suffer grief and pain, how should their part not be pale-faced (sick and subject to decay)?

خاصه جزوی کاو ز اضداد است جمع ** ز آب و خاک و آتش و باد است جمع‌‌

Especially a part which is composed of contraries—of water and earth and fire and air.

این عجب نبود که میش از گرگ جست ** این عجب کاین میش دل در گرگ بست‌‌

It is no wonder that the sheep recoiled from the wolf; the wonder is that this sheep set its heart on (became friendly with) the wolf.

زندگانی آشتی ضدهاست ** مرگ آن کاندر میانشان جنگ خاست‌‌

Life is the peace (harmony) of contraries; death is the fact that war arose between them.

لطف حق این شیر را و گور را ** الف داده ست این دو ضد دور را

The grace of God has given amity to this lion and wild-ass— these two far distant contraries.

چون جهان رنجور و زندانی بود ** چه عجب رنجور اگر فانی بود 1295

Since the world is sick and a prisoner, what wonder if the sick one is passing away?”

خواند بر شیر او از این رو پندها ** گفت من پس مانده‌‌ام زین بندها

From this point of view he (the hare) recited counsels to the lion. “I have lagged behind,” said he, “because of these bonds.”

پرسیدن شیر از سبب پای واپس کشیدن خرگوش‌‌

How the lion asked the reason of the hare's drawing back.

شیر گفتش تو ز اسباب مرض ** این سبب گو خاص کاین استم غرض‌‌

The lion said to him, “Amongst (all) the causes of your malady tell (me) the special cause, for this is my object.”

گفت آن شیر اندر این چه ساکن است ** اندر این قلعه ز آفات ایمن است‌‌

“That lion,” he said, “lives in this well: within this fortress he is safe from harms.”

قعر چه بگزید هر کی عاقل است ** ز آن که در خلوت صفاهای دل است‌‌

Every one who is wise chose the bottom of the well (to live in), because spiritual joys are (to be attained only) in solitude.

ظلمت چه به که ظلمتهای خلق ** سر نبرد آن کس که گیرد پای خلق‌‌ 1300

The darkness of the well is better than the dark shades of the world: he that followed at the heels of the world never saved his head.

گفت پیش آ زخمم او را قاهر است ** تو ببین کان شیر در چه حاضر است‌‌

“Come on,” said the lion; “my blow subdues him: see thou whether that lion is in the well at present.”

گفت من سوزیده‌‌ام ز آن آتشی ** تو مگر اندر بر خویشم کشی‌‌

The hare answered, “I am consumed with (dread of) that fieriness (wrath): perhaps thou wilt take me beside thee,

تا بپشت تو من ای کان کرم ** چشم بگشایم به چه در بنگرم‌‌

That with thy support, O mine of generosity, I may open my eyes and look into the well.”

نظر کردن شیر در چاه و دیدن عکس خود را و آن خرگوش را

How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.

چون که شیر اندر بر خویشش کشید ** در پناه شیر تا چه می‌‌دوید

When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.

چون که در چه بنگریدند اندر آب ** اندر آب از شیر و او در تافت تاب‌‌ 1305

As soon as they looked at the water in the well, there shone forth in the water the light (reflected) from the lion and him (the hare).

شیر عکس خویش دید از آب تفت ** شکل شیری در برش خرگوش زفت‌‌

The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.

چون که خصم خویش را در آب دید ** مر و را بگذاشت و اندر چه جهید

When he beheld his adversary in the water, he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.

در فتاد اندر چهی کاو کنده بود ** ز آن که ظلمش در سرش آینده بود

He fell into the well which he had dug, because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.

چاه مظلم گشت ظلم ظالمان ** این چنین گفتند جمله عالمان‌‌

The iniquity of evil-doers became (for them) a dark well: so have said all the wise.

هر که ظالمتر چهش با هول‌‌تر ** عدل فرموده ست بدتر را بتر 1310

The more iniquitous one is, the more frightful is his well: (Divine) Justice has ordained worse (punishment) for worse (sin).

ای که تو از ظلم چاهی می‌‌کنی ** دان که بهر خویش دامی می‌‌کنی‌‌

O you who on account of (your) high estate are committing an act of injustice, know that you are digging a well (pit) for yourself.

گرد خود چون کرم پیله بر متن ** بهر خود چه می‌‌کنی اندازه کن‌‌

Do not weave (a cocoon) round yourself, like the silkworm. You are digging a well for yourself (to fall in): dig with moderation (not too deep).

مر ضعیفان را تو بی‌‌خصمی مدان ** از نبی ذا جاء نصر الله خوان‌‌

Deem not the weak to be without a champion: recite from the Qur’án (the words), When the help of God shall come.

گر تو پیلی خصم تو از تو رمید ** نک جزا طیرا ابابیلت رسید

If you are an elephant and your foe fled from you, lo, the retribution came upon you, birds in flocks.

گر ضعیفی در زمین خواهد امان ** غلغل افتد در سپاه آسمان‌‌ 1315

If any poor man on the earth beg for mercy, a loud tumult falls on (arises among) the Host of Heaven.

گر بدندانش گزی پر خون کنی ** درد دندانت بگیرد چون کنی‌‌

If you bite him with your teeth and make him bleed, toothache will attack you—how will you do (then)?

شیر خود را دید در چه وز غلو ** خویش را نشناخت آن دم از عدو

The lion saw himself in the well, and in his fury he did not know himself at that moment from the enemy.

عکس خود را او عدوی خویش دید ** لا جرم بر خویش شمشیری کشید

He regarded his own reflexion as his enemy: necessarily he drew a sword against himself.

ای بسا ظلمی که بینی از کسان ** خوی تو باشد در ایشان ای فلان‌‌

Oh, many an iniquity that you see in others is your own nature (reflected) in them, O reader!

اندر ایشان تافته هستی تو ** از نفاق و ظلم و بد مستی تو 1320

In them shone forth all that you are in your hypocrisy and iniquity and insolence.

آن تویی و آن زخم بر خود می‌‌زنی ** بر خود آن دم تار لعنت می‌‌تنی‌‌

You are that (evil-doer), and you are striking those blows at yourself: you are weaving a curse upon yourself at that moment.

در خود آن بد را نمی‌‌بینی عیان ** ور نه دشمن بودیی خود را به جان‌‌

You do not see clearly the evil in yourself, else you would hate yourself with (all) your soul.

حمله بر خود می‌‌کنی ای ساده مرد ** همچو آن شیری که بر خود حمله کرد

You are assaulting yourself, O simpleton, like the lion who made a rush at himself.

چون به قعر خوی خود اندر رسی ** پس بدانی کز تو بود آن ناکسی‌‌

When you reach the bottom of your own nature, then you will know that that vileness was from yourself.

شیر را در قعر پیدا شد که بود ** نقش او آن کش دگر کس می‌‌نمود 1325

At the bottom (of the well) it became manifest to the lion that he who seemed to him to be another was (really) his own image.

هر که دندان ضعیفی می‌‌کند ** کار آن شیر غلط بین می‌‌کند

Whoever tears out the teeth of a poor wretch is doing what the falsely-seeing lion did.