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
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”3450
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه