Had he not seen (in me) one of his own kind, how should he have approached? How should he have thrown himself upon (attached himself to) one of another kind?”2100
گر ندیدی جنس خود کی آمدی ** کی به غیر جنس خود را بر زدی
When two persons come into touch with each other, without any doubt there is something in common between them.
چون دو کس بر هم زند بیهیچ شک ** در میانشان هست قدر مشترک
How should a bird fly except with its own kind? The society of the uncongenial is the grave and the tomb.
کی پرد مرغی مگر با جنس خود ** صحبت ناجنس گور است و لحد
The cause of a bird's flying and feeding with a bird that is not of its own kind.
سبب پریدن و چریدن مرغی با مرغی که جنس او نبود
Said a certain sage, “I saw a crow running about in the desert with a stork.
آن حکیمی گفت دیدم هم تکی ** در بیابان زاغ را با لکلکی
I marvelled long, and I investigated their case, in order that I might find the clue (as to) what it was that they had in common.
در عجب ماندم بجستم حالشان ** تا چه قدر مشترک یابم نشان
When, amazed and bewildered, I approached them, (then) indeed I saw that both of them were lame.”2105
چون شدم نزدیک، من حیران و دنگ ** خود بدیدم هر دوان بودند لنگ
In particular, (how should) a royal falcon, which is of the highest heaven, (consort) with an owl, which is of the low earth?
خاصه شهبازی که او عرشی بود ** با یکی جغدی که او فرشی بود
That one is the sun of ‘Illiyyún, while the other is a bat which belongs to Sijjín.
آن یکی خورشید علیین بود ** وین دگر خفاش کز سجین بود
That one is a luminary, free from every defect, while this (other) one is a blind man begging at every door.
آن یکی نوری ز هر عیبی بری ** وین یکی کوری گدای هر دری
That one is a moon that strikes (its beams) upon the Pleiades, while this (other) one is a worm that lives in dung.
آن یکی ماهی که بر پروین زند ** وین یکی کرمی که در سرگین زید