- Every one who is wise chose the bottom of the well (to live in), because spiritual joys are (to be attained only) in solitude.
- قعر چه بگزید هر کی عاقل است ** ز آن که در خلوت صفاهای دل است
- 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. 1300
- ظلمت چه به که ظلمتهای خلق ** سر نبرد آن کس که گیرد پای خلق
- “Come on,” said the lion; “my blow subdues him: see thou whether that lion is in the well at present.”
- گفت پیش آ زخمم او را قاهر است ** تو ببین کان شیر در چه حاضر است
- The hare answered, “I am consumed with (dread of) that fieriness (wrath): perhaps thou wilt take me beside thee,
- گفت من سوزیدهام ز آن آتشی ** تو مگر اندر بر خویشم کشی
- That with thy support, O mine of generosity, I may open my eyes and look into the well.”
- تا بپشت تو من ای کان کرم ** چشم بگشایم به چه در بنگرم
- How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.
- نظر کردن شیر در چاه و دیدن عکس خود را و آن خرگوش را
- When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.
- چون که شیر اندر بر خویشش کشید ** در پناه شیر تا چه میدوید
- 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). 1305
- چون که در چه بنگریدند اندر آب ** اندر آب از شیر و او در تافت تاب
- The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.
- شیر عکس خویش دید از آب تفت ** شکل شیری در برش خرگوش زفت
- When he beheld his adversary in the water, he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.
- چون که خصم خویش را در آب دید ** مر و را بگذاشت و اندر چه جهید
- He fell into the well which he had dug, because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.
- در فتاد اندر چهی کاو کنده بود ** ز آن که ظلمش در سرش آینده بود