- He would speak his opinion in a covert parable, in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
- در مثالی بسته گفتی رای را ** تا نداند خصم از سر پای را
- He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary), while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
- او جواب خویش بگرفتی از او ** وز سؤالش می‌‌نبردی غیر بو
- The story of the hare's stratagem.
- قصه‌‌ی مکر خرگوش
- He delayed awhile in going, then he went before the lion who rends (his prey) with claws. 1055
- ساعتی تاخیر کرد اندر شدن ** بعد از آن شد پیش شیر پنجه زن
- Because he tarried late in going, the lion was tearing up the earth and roaring.
- ز آن سبب کاندر شدن او ماند دیر ** خاک را می‌‌کند و می‌‌غرید شیر
- “I said,” cried the lion, “that the promise of those vile ones would be vain—vain and frail and unfulfilled.
- گفت من گفتم که عهد آن خسان ** خام باشد خام و سست و نارسان
- Their palaver has duped me: how long will this Time deceive me, how long?”
- دمدمه‌‌ی ایشان مرا از خر فگند ** چند بفریبد مرا این دهر چند
- The prince that hath no strength in his beard is left sorely in the lurch when by reason of his folly he looks neither backwards nor forwards.
- سخت درماند امیر سست ریش ** چون نه پس بیند نه پیش از احمقیش
- The road is smooth, and under it are pitfalls: amidst the names there is a dearth of meaning. 1060
- راه هموار است و زیرش دامها ** قحط معنی در میان نامها
- Words and names are like pitfalls: the sweet (flattering) word is the sand for (the sand that sucks up) the water of our life.
- لفظها و نامها چون دامهاست ** لفظ شیرین ریگ آب عمر ماست
- The one sand whence water gushes is seldom to be found: go, seek it.
- آن یکی ریگی که جوشد آب ازو ** سخت کمیاب است رو آن را بجو