Had there been reason (in him), he would have made a circuit round himself, in order that he might see his offence and become forgiven.
عقل بودی گرد خود کردی طواف ** تا بدیدی جرم خود گشتی معاف
When, on account of asininity, a tethered ass becomes violent, both his (fore-)legs will be shackled in addition.1495
چون خری پابسته تندد از خری ** هر دو پایش بسته گردد بر سری
Then the ass will say, “One tether is enough for me”; (but) in sooth do not think (that such is the case), for those two are (result) from the action of that vile creature.
پس بگوید خر که یک بندم بست ** خود مدان کان دو ز فعل آن خسست
In exposition of the following Hadíth of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace: "Verily, the most High God created the angels and set reason in them, and He created the beasts and set lust in them, and He created the sons of Adam and set in them reason and lust; and he whose reason prevails over his lust is higher than the angels, and he whose lust prevails over his reason is lower than the beasts."
در تفسیر این حدیث مصطفی علیه‌السلام کی ان الله تعالی خلق الملائکة و رکب فیهم العقل و خلق البهائم و رکب فیها الشهوة و خلق بنی آدم و رکب فیهم العقل و الشهوة فمن غلب عقله شهوته فهو اعلی من الملائکة و من غلب شهوته عقله فهو ادنی من البهائم
It is related in the Hadíth that the majestical God created the creatures of the world (in) three kinds.
در حدیث آمد که یزدان مجید ** خلق عالم را سه گونه آفرید
One class (He made) entirely reason and knowledge and munificence; that is the angel: he knoweth naught but prostration in worship.
یک گره را جمله عقل و علم و جود ** آن فرشته‌ست او نداند جز سجود
In his original nature is no concupiscence and sensuality: he is absolute light, (he is) living through (his) love of God.
نیست اندر عنصرش حرص و هوا ** نور مطلق زنده از عشق خدا
Another class is devoid of knowledge, like the animal (which lives) in fatness from (eating) fodder.1500
یک گروه دیگر از دانش تهی ** هم‌چو حیوان از علف در فربهی
It sees nothing but stable and fodder: it is heedless of (future) misery and glory (felicity).
او نبیند جز که اصطبل و علف ** از شقاوت غافلست و از شرف
The third (class) is Adam's descendant and Man: half of him is of the angel and half of him is ass.
این سوم هست آدمی‌زاد و بشر ** نیم او ز افرشته و نیمیش خر
The ass-half, indeed, inclines to that which is low; the other half inclines to that which is rational.
نیم خر خود مایل سفلی بود ** نیم دیگر مایل عقلی بود