- How should the ass be debased by his (bodily) form, if his spirit had possessed the virtue (that is derived) from (rational) experience?
- گر هنر بودی دلش را ز اختبار ** خوار کی بودی ز صورت آن حمار
- The dog of the Companions (of the Cave) had a goodly character: was he any the worse on account of his (bodily) form?
- آن سگ اصحاب خوش بد سیرتش ** هیچ بودش منقصت زان صورتش
- The “Fellows of the Sabbath” suffered outward metamorphosis, in order that the people might behold outwardly their ignominious fall.
- مسخ ظاهر بود اهل سبت را ** تا ببیند خلق ظاهر کبت را
- Through breaking (vows of) repentance a hundred thousand others have become hogs and asses inwardly.
- از ره سر صد هزاران دگر ** گشته از توبه شکستن خوک و خر
- How the fox approached the runaway ass a second time in order to beguile him once more.
- دوم بار آمدن روبه بر این خر گریخته تا باز بفریبدش
- Then the fox came quickly towards the ass: the ass said, “One must beware of a friend like you. 2600
- پس بیامد زود روبه سوی خر ** گفت خر از چون تو یاری الحذر
- Ignoble creature, what did I do to you that you brought me into the presence of a dragon?
- ناجوامردا چه کردم من ترا ** که به پیش اژدها بردی مرا
- What but the malignity of your nature was the cause of your enmity to my life, O perverse one?”—
- موجب کین تو با جانم چه بود ** غیر خبث جوهر تو ای عنود
- Like the scorpion, which bites a man's foot though no inconvenience has come to it from him,
- هم‌چو کزدم کو گزد پای فتی ** نارسیده از وی او را زحمتی
- Or like the Devil who is the enemy of our souls, though no inconvenience or injury has befallen him from us;
- یا چو دیوی کو عدوی جان ماست ** نارسیده زحمتش از ما و کاست
- Nay, but he is naturally the adversary of the human soul and rejoices at the destruction of Man; 2605
- بلک طبعا خصم جان آدمیست ** از هلاک آدمی در خرمیست