Rumi's Masnavi - Then he would say, “Prudence consists in your thinking evil: how shall he that thinks no evil remain unhurt?”

Then he would say, “Prudence consists in your thinking evil: how shall he that thinks no evil remain unhurt?”

باز گفتی حزم سوء الظن تست ** هر که بد ظن نیست کی ماند درست‏

The Súfí was in (this) anxiety, and (meanwhile) the ass was in such a plight that—may it befall our enemies!

صوفی اندر وسوسه و آن خر چنان ** که چنین بادا جز ای دشمنان‏

That poor ass was amidst earth and stones, with his saddle crooked and his halter torn, 235

آن خر مسکین میان خاک و سنگ ** کژ شده پالان دریده پالهنگ‏

Killed (exhausted) by the journey, without fodder all the night long, now at the last gasp and now perishing.

خسته از ره جمله‏ی شب بی‏علف ** گاه در جان کندن و گه در تلف‏

All night the ass was repeating, “O God, I give up the barley; (but am I to have) less than one handful of straw?”

خر همه شب ذکر می‏کرد ای اله ** جو رها کردم کم از یک مشت کاه‏

With mute eloquence he was saying, “O Shaykhs, (have) some pity, for I am consumed (with anguish) because of this raw impudent rogue.”

با زبان حال می‏گفت ای شیوخ ** رحمتی که سوختم زین خام شوخ‏

What that ass suffered of pain and torment, the land-bird suffers (the same) in a flood of water.

آن چه آن خر دید از رنج و عذاب ** مرغ خاکی بیند اندر سیل آب‏

(All) that night till dawn the wretched ass, from exceeding hunger, rolled frequently on his side. 240

بس به پهلو گشت آن شب تا سحر ** آن خر بی‏چاره از جوع البقر

Day rose. The servant came at morn and at once laid the saddle firmly on the ass's back.

روز شد خادم بیامد بامداد ** زود پالان جست بر پشتش نهاد

After the fashion of ass-dealers he gave him two or three blows (with a goad): he did to the ass what is befitting from such a cur (as he was).

خر فروشانه دو سه زخمش بزد ** کرد با خر آن چه ز آن سگ می‏سزد