One of those parrots trembled exceedingly, fell, and died, and its breath stopped.
طوطیی ز آن طوطیان لرزید بس ** اوفتاد و مرد و بگسستش نفس
The merchant repented of having told the news, and said, “I have gone about to destroy the creature.1590
شد پشیمان خواجه از گفت خبر ** گفت رفتم در هلاک جانور
This one, surely, is kin to that little parrot (of mine): they must have been two bodies and one spirit.
این مگر خویش است با آن طوطیک ** این مگر دو جسم بود و روح یک
Why did I do this? Why did I give the message? I have consumed the poor creature by this raw (foolish) speech.”
این چرا کردم چرا دادم پیام ** سوختم بی‌‌چاره را زین گفت خام
This tongue is like stone and is also like iron, and that which springs from the tongue is like fire.
این زبان چون سنگ و هم آهن‌‌وش است ** و آن چه بجهد از زبان چون آتش است
Do not vainly strike stone and iron against each other, now for the sake of relating (a story), now for the sake of boasting,
سنگ و آهن را مزن بر هم گزاف ** گه ز روی نقل و گاه از روی لاف
Because it is dark, and on every side are fields of cotton: how should sparks be amongst cotton?1595
ز آن که تاریک است و هر سو پنبه زار ** در میان پنبه چون باشد شرار
Iniquitous are those persons who shut their eyes and by such (vain) words set a whole world ablaze.
ظالم آن قومی که چشمان دوختند ** ز آن سخنها عالمی را سوختند
A single word lays waste a (whole) world, turns dead foxes into lions.
عالمی را یک سخن ویران کند ** روبهان مرده را شیران کند
Spirits in their original nature have the (life-giving) breath of Jesus, (but while they remain embodied) at one time they are (like) the wound, and another time (like) the plaster.
جانها در اصل خود عیسی دمند ** یک زمان زخمند و گاهی مرهمند