A moon like this is disgraced by the stars: it is amongst the stars for generosity's sake.
این چنین مه را ز اختر ننگهاست ** او میان اختران بهر سخاست
The (Divine) command, Consult them, came to the Prophet, though no counsel is to be compared with his own.
امر شاورهم پیمبر را رسید ** گر چه رایی نیست رایش را ندید
In the scales barley has become the companion of gold, (but that is) not because barley has become a substance like gold.3020
در ترازو جو رفیق زر شده ست ** نی از آن که جو چو زر گوهر شده ست
The spirit has now become the body's fellow-traveller: the dog has become for a time the guardian of the palace-gate.
روح قالب را کنون همره شده ست ** مدتی سگ حارس درگه شده ست
When this party (the wolf and fox) went to the mountains at the stirrup (side) of the lion majestic and grand,
چون که رفتند این جماعت سوی کوه ** در رکاب شیر با فر و شکوه
They found a mountain-ox and goat and fat hare, and their business went forward (prosperously).
گاو کوهی و بز و خرگوش زفت ** یافتند و کار ایشان پیش رفت
Whoever is on the heels of him that is a lion in combat, roast-meat does not fail him by day or by night.
هر که باشد در پی شیر حراب ** کم نیاید روز و شب او را کباب
When they brought them (the animals which they had caught) from the mountains to the jungle, killed and wounded and dragging along in (streams of) blood,3025
چون ز که در بیشه آوردندشان ** کشته و مجروح و اندر خون کشان
The wolf and fox hoped that a division (of the prey) would be made according to the justice of emperors.
گرگ و روبه را طمع بود اندر آن ** که رود قسمت به عدل خسروان
The reflexion of the hope of both of them struck the lion: the lion knew (what was) the ground for those hopes.
عکس طمع هر دوشان بر شیر زد ** شیر دانست آن طمعها را سند