- A little mouse caught in his forelegs a camel's leading-rope and from emulation went off (with it).
- موشکی در کف مهار اشتری ** در ربود و شد روان او از مری
- By reason of the readiness with which the camel set out along with him, the mouse was duped into thinking himself a hero.
- اشتر از چستی که با او شد روان ** موش غره شد که هستم پهلوان
- The ray of his thought struck the camel. He (the camel) said (aside), “I will show thee (presently)! Enjoy thyself!”
- بر شتر زد پرتو اندیشهاش ** گفت بنمایم ترا تو باش خوش
- (All went well) till he (the mouse) came to the bank of a great river, at which any lion or wolf would have lost heart.
- تا بیامد بر لب جوی بزرگ ** کاندر او گشتی زبون پیل سترگ
- There the mouse stopped and became paralysed. The camel said, “O my companion o’er hill and plain, 3440
- موش آن جا ایستاد و خشک گشت ** گفت اشتر ای رفیق کوه و دشت
- What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!
- این توقف چیست حیرانی چرا ** پا بنه مردانه اندر جو در آ
- Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”
- تو قلاووزی و پیش آهنگ من ** در میان ره مباش و تن مزن
- He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”
- گفت این آب شگرف است و عمیق ** من همیترسم ز غرقاب ای رفیق
- Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
- گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
- “The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?” 3445
- گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش