Water and bread have not the appearance of being our congeners, (but) from consideration of the end (final result) deem them to be homogeneous (with us).
نقش جنسیت ندارد آب و نان ** ز اعتبار آخر آن را جنس دان
And if our delight is (derived) from something not homogeneous, that (thing) will surely resemble the congener.
ور ز غیر جنس باشد ذوق ما ** آن مگر مانند باشد جنس را
That which (only) bears a resemblance is a loan: a loan is impermanent in the end.
آن که مانند است باشد عاریت ** عاریت باقی نماند عاقبت
Although the bird is delighted by (the fowler's) whistle, it takes fright when it (sees him and) does not find its own congener.895
مرغ را گر ذوق آید از صفیر ** چون که جنس خود نیابد شد نفیر
Although the thirsty man is delighted by the mirage, he runs away when he comes up to it, and seeks for water.
تشنه را گر ذوق آید از سراب ** چون رسد در وی گریزد جوید آب
Moreover, the insolent are pleased with base gold, yet that (gold) is put to shame in the mint.
مفلسان هم خوش شوند از زر قلب ** لیک آن رسوا شود در دار ضرب
(Take heed) lest gildedness (imposture) cast you out of the (right) way, lest false imagination cast you into the well.
تا زر اندودیت از ره نفگند ** تا خیال کژ ترا چه نفگند
Seek the story (illustrating this) from (the book of) Kalíla (and Dimna), and search out the moral (contained) in the story.
از کلیله باز جو آن قصه را ** و اندر آن قصه طلب کن حصه را
Setting forth how the beasts of chase told the lion to trust in God and cease from exerting himself.
بیان توکل و ترک جهد گفتن نخجیران به شیر
A number of beasts of chase in a pleasant valley were continually harassed by a lion.900
طایفه‌‌ی نخجیر در وادی خوش ** بودشان از شیر دایم کش مکش
Inasmuch as the lion was (springing) from ambush and carrying them away, that pasturage had become unpleasant to them all.
بس که آن شیر از کمین درمی‌‌ربود ** آن چرا بر جمله ناخوش گشته بود