- “O friends,” said he, “grant me a respite, that by my cunning ye may escape from calamity, 1000
- گفت ای یاران مرا مهلت دهید ** تا به مکرم از بلا بیرون جهید
- That by my cunning your lives may be saved and this (safety) remain as a heritage to your children.”
- تا امان یابد به مکرم جانتان ** ماند این میراث فرزندانتان
- After this manner every prophet in the world used to call the peoples to a place of deliverance,
- هر پیمبر امتان را در جهان ** همچنین تا مخلصی می‌‌خواندشان
- For he had seen from Heaven the way of escape, (though) in (their) sight he was contracted (despicable) like the pupil of the eye.
- کز فلک راه برون شو دیده بود ** در نظر چون مردمک پیچیده بود
- Men regarded him as small like the pupil: none attained to (understanding of) the (real) greatness (worth) of the pupil.
- مردمش چون مردمک دیدند خرد ** در بزرگی مردمک کس ره نبرد
- How the beasts objected to the proposal of the hare.
- اعتراض نخجیران بر سخن خرگوش
- The company (of beasts) said to him: “O donkey, listen (to us)! Keep thyself within the measure of a hare! 1005
- قوم گفتندش که ای خر گوش دار ** خویش را اندازه‌‌ی خرگوش دار
- Eh, what brag is this—(an idea) which thy betters never brought into their minds?
- هین چه لاف است این که از تو بهتران ** در نیاوردند اندر خاطر آن
- Thou art self-conceited, or Destiny is pursuing us; else, how is this speech suitable to one like thee?
- معجبی یا خود قضامان در پی است ** ور نه این دم لایق چون تو کی است
- How the hare again answered the beasts.
- جواب خرگوش نخجیران را
- He said: “O friends, God gave me inspiration: to a weakling there came a strong judgement (wise counsel).”
- گفت ای یاران حقم الهام داد ** مر ضعیفی را قوی رایی فتاد
- That which God taught to the bees is not (belonging) to the lion and the wild ass.
- آن چه حق آموخت مر زنبور را ** آن نباشد شیر را و گور را