- The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.
- روحهایی کز قفسها رسته‌‌اند ** انبیای رهبر شایسته‌‌اند
- From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.
- از برون آوازشان آید ز دین ** که ره رستن ترا این است این
- By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,
- ما به دین رستیم زین ننگین قفس ** جز که این ره نیست چاره‌‌ی این قفس
- (That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.” 1545
- خویش را رنجور سازی زار زار ** تا ترا بیرون کنند از اشتهار
- Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?
- که اشتهار خلق بند محکم است ** در ره این از بند آهن کی کم است
- The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
- قصه‌‌ی بازرگان که طوطی محبوس او او را پیغام داد به طوطیان هندوستان هنگام رفتن به تجارت
- There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
- بود بازرگانی او را طوطیی ** در قفس محبوس زیبا طوطیی
- When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,
- چون که بازرگان سفر را ساز کرد ** سوی هندستان شدن آغاز کرد
- Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
- هر غلام و هر کنیزک را ز جود ** گفت بهر تو چه آرم گوی زود
- Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all. 1550
- هر یکی از وی مرادی خواست کرد ** جمله را وعده بداد آن نیک مرد
- He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
- گفت طوطی را چه خواهی ارمغان ** کارمت از خطه‌‌ی هندوستان