Because I am one of the lawfully begotten, not one of the children of adultery and the people of perdition.3405
زانک هستم من ز اولاد حلال ** نه ز اولاد زنا و اهل ضلال
Thou art one of the children of adultery: without doubt the arrow flies crookedly when the bow is bad.”
تو ز اولاد زنایی بی‌گمان ** تیر کژ پرد چو بد باشد کمان
How the mule declared the replies of the camel to be true and acknowledged his (the camel's) superiority to himself and besought his aid and took refuge with him sincerely; and how the camel treated him with kindness and showed him the way and gave help in fatherly and kingly fashion.
تصدیق کردن استر جوابهای شتر را و اقرار کردن بفضل او بر خود و ازو استعانت خواستن و بدو پناه گرفتن به صدق و نواختن شتر او را و ره نمودن و یاری دادن پدرانه و شاهانه
The mule said, “Thou hast spoken the truth, O camel.” This he said and filled his eye with tears.
گفت استر راست گفتی ای شتر ** این بگفت و چشم کرد از اشک پر
He wept awhile and fell at his (the camel's) feet and said, “O chosen of the Lord of men,
ساعتی بگریست و در پایش فتاد ** گفت ای بگزیده‌ی رب العباد
What harm will it do if thou, by (favour of) thy blessedness, wilt receive me into thy service?”
چه زیان دارد گر از فرخندگی ** در پذیری تو مرا دربندگی
He (the camel) said, “Since thou hast made confession in my presence, go (in peace), for thou art saved from the contaminations of Time.3410
گفت چون اقرار کردی پیش من ** رو که رستی تو ز آفات زمن
Thou hast given justice (hast made just amends) and art saved from tribulation: thou wast an enemy, thou hast become one of the leal.
دادی انصاف و رهیدی از بلا ** تو عدو بودی شدی ز اهل ولا
The evil disposition was not original (innate) in thy person; for from original evil comes naught but denial.
خوی بد در ذات تو اصلی نبود ** کز بد اصلی نیاید جز جحود
The borrowed (temporary) evil is such that he (in whom it appears) makes confession and desires to repent;
آن بد عاریتی باشد که او ** آرد اقرار و شود او توبه‌جو
Like Adam, whose lapse was temporary: of necessity he showed penitence at once.
هم‌چو آدم زلتش عاریه بود ** لاجرم اندر زمان توبه نمود