- (Once) there was a washerman, who had an ass with a sore on its back and empty-bellied and lean.
- گازری بود و مر او را یک خری ** پشت ریش اشکم تهی و لاغری
- (He kept it) in ground covered with stones, where no grass grew: from morning till night it went without food and shelter.
- در میان سنگ لاخ بی‌گیاه ** روز تا شب بی‌نوا و بی‌پناه
- Except water, there was nothing for it to eat or drink: the ass was in that miserable state by day and by night.
- بهر خوردن جز که آب آنجا نبود ** روز و شب بد خر در آن کور و کبود
- In the neighbourhood was a reed-bed and a jungle, where a lion lived whose occupation was hunting.
- آن حوالی نیستان و بیشه بود ** شیر بود آنجا که صیدش پیشه بود
- A battle took place between the lion and a fierce elephant: the lion was wounded and disabled from going to hunt. 2330
- شیر را با پیل نر جنگ اوفتاد ** خسته شد آن شیر و ماند از اصطیاد
- On account of his weakness he was unable to hunt for some time, and the (smaller) wild animals were deprived of their morning-meal;
- مدتی وا ماند زان ضعف از شکار ** بی‌نوا ماندند دد از چاشت‌خوار
- For they used to eat the lion's leavings: when the lion became ill they suffered distress.
- زانک باقی‌خوار شیر ایشان بدند ** شیر چون رنجور شد تنگ آمدند
- The lion gave orders to a fox, saying, “Go and hunt an ass for me.
- شیر یک روباه را فرمود رو ** مر خری را بهر من صیاد شو
- If you find an ass round about the meadow, go, charm him with specious talk, beguile him, and bring him (here).
- گر خری یابی به گرد مرغزار ** رو فسونش خوان فریبانش بیار
- As soon as I gain some strength from (eating) the flesh of the ass, then afterwards I will seize another victim. 2335
- چون بیابم قوتی از گوشت خر ** پس بگیرم بعد از آن صیدی دگر