Rumi's Masnavi - 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.

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

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

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