- (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
- He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
- گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
- If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
- گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
- He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
- گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر