Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
در هر آنجا که برآرد موش دست ** نیست گربه یا که نقش گربه است
What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
گربه‌ی چه شیر شیرافکن بود ** عقل ایمانی که اندر تن بود
Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.1990
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل
The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود
That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.1995
این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای
On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی
(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار