- 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
- What else (but good) should the picture think of the painter, since he bestowed thought and knowledge upon it? 3035
- نقش با نقاش چه سگالد دگر ** چون سگالش اوش بخشید و خبر
- Had ye such a vile opinion of me, O ye who are a scandal to the world?
- این چنین ظن خسیسانه به من ** مر شما را بود ننگان زمن
- If I should not behead them that think ill of God, it would be the essence of wrong.
- ظانین بالله ظن السوء را ** گر نبرم سر بود عین خطا
- I will deliver the Sphere (of Time) from your disgrace, so that this tale shall remain in the world (as a warning).”
- وارهانم چرخ را از ننگتان ** تا بماند بر جهان این داستان
- While thus meditating, the lion continued to smile visibly: do not trust the smiles of the lion!
- شیر با این فکر می‌‌زد خنده فاش ** بر تبسمهای شیر ایمن مباش
- Worldly wealth is (like) the smiles of God: it has made us drunken and vainglorious and threadbare (deprived of the means of salvation). 3040
- مال دنیا شد تبسمهای حق ** کرد ما را مست و مغرور و خلق