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
Any one that is the lion and prince of (spiritual) mysteries, he will know all that the conscience thinks.
هر که باشد شیر اسرار و امیر ** او بداند هر چه اندیشد ضمیر
Beware! Guard thyself, O heart disposed to thinking, from any evil thought in his presence.
هین نگه دار ای دل اندیشه جو ** دل ز اندیشه‌‌ی بدی در پیش او
He knows and keeps riding on silently: he smiles in thy face in order to mask (his feelings).3030
داند و خر را همی‌‌راند خموش ** در رخت خندد برای روی‌‌پوش
When the lion perceived their bad ideas, he did not declare (his knowledge), and paid (courteous) regard (to them) at the time,
شیر چون دانست آن وسواسشان ** وانگفت و داشت آن دم پاسشان
But he said to himself, “I will show you what (chastisement) ye deserve, O beggarly villains!
لیک با خود گفت بنمایم سزا ** مر شما را ای خسیسان گدا
Was my judgement not enough for you? Is this your opinion of my bounty,
مر شما را بس نیامد رای من ** ظنتان این است در اعطای من
O ye whose understanding and judgement are (derived) from my judgement and from my world-adorning gifts?
ای عقول و رایتان از رای من ** از عطاهای جهان آرای من