That wary (fish) made its breast o afoot (swam away) and was going from its perilous abode to the sea of light,2235
سینه را پا ساخت می‌رفت آن حذور ** از مقام با خطر تا بحر نور
Like the deer of which a dog is in pursuit and which keeps running so long as there is a single nerve in its body.
هم‌چو آهو کز پی او سگ بود ** می‌دود تا در تنش یک رگ بود
Hare’s sleep (heedlessness) with the dog in pursuit is a sin: how indeed is sleep (dwelling) in the eye of him who hath fear?
خواب خرگوش و سگ اندر پی خطاست ** خواب خود در چشم ترسنده کجاست
That fish departed and took the way to the sea: it took the far way and the vast expanse.
رفت آن ماهی ره دریا گرفت ** راه دور و پهنه‌ی پهنا گرفت
It suffered many afflictions, and in the end it went after all towards safety and welfare.
رنجها بسیار دید و عاقبت ** رفت آخر سوی امن و عافیت
It cast itself into the deep Sea whose bound no eye can reach.2240
خویشتن افکند در دریای ژرف ** که نیابد حد آن را هیچ طرف
So when the fishermen brought their net (to the lake), the half-intelligent (fish) was bitterly grieved thereat.
پس چو صیادان بیاوردند دام ** نیم‌عاقل را از آن شد تلخ کام
And said, “Alas, I have lost the opportunity: how did not I accompany that guide?
گفت اه من فوت کردم فرصه را ** چون نگشتم همره آن رهنما
He went off suddenly, but seeing that he went I ought to have gone after him in hot haste.”
ناگهان رفت او ولیکن چونک رفت ** می‌ببایستم شدن در پی بتفت
‘Tis wrong to regret the past: what is gone will not come back: to remember it is of no avail.
بر گذشته حسرت آوردن خطاست ** باز ناید رفته یاد آن هباست
Story of the captive bird which gave the (following) injunctions: do not feel sorrow for what is past, think about taking precaution for the present (need), and do not spend time in repenting.
قصه‌ی آن مرغ گرفته کی وصیت کرد کی بر گذشته پشیمانی مخور تدارک وقت اندیش و روزگار مبر در پشیمانی