The camel's anger is not (directed) against his stick: therefore the camel has got some notion of the power of choice (in Man).
خشم اشتر نیست با آن چوب او ** پس ز مختاری شتر بردست بو
Similarly a dog, if you throw a stone at him, will rush at you and become contorted (with fury).
هم‌چنین سگ گر برو سنگی زنی ** بر تو آرد حمله گردد منثنی
If he seize the stone, ’tis because of his anger against you; for you are far off and he has no means of getting at you.
سنگ را گر گیرد از خشم توست ** که تو دوری و ندارد بر تو دست
Since the animal intelligence is conscious of the power of choice (in Man), do not thou, O human intelligence, hold this (Necessitarian doctrine). Be ashamed!
عقل حیوانی چو دانست اختیار ** این مگو ای عقل انسان شرم دار
This (power of choice) is manifest, but in his desire for the meal taken before dawn that (greedy) eater shuts his eyes to the light.3055
روشنست این لیکن از طمع سحور ** آن خورنده چشم می‌بندد ز نور
Since all his desire is for eating bread, he sets his face towards the darkness, saying, ‘It is not (yet) day.’
چونک کلی میل او نان خوردنیست ** رو به تاریکی نهد که روز نیست
Inasmuch as greed causes the sun to be hidden (from him), what wonder if he turn his back on the convincing proof?
حرص چون خورشید را پنهان کند ** چه عجب گر پشت بر برهان کند
A Story illustrating and confirming the view that mankind have the power of choice, and showing that Pre-ordination and Predestination do not annul the power of choice.
حکایت هم در بیان تقریر اختیار خلق و بیان آنک تقدیر و قضا سلب کننده‌ی اختیار نیست
A thief said to the magistrate, ‘O (my) king, that which I have done was decreed by God.’
گفت دزدی شحنه را کای پادشاه ** آنچ کردم بود آن حکم اله
The magistrate replied, ‘That which I am doing is also decreed by God, O light of my eyes.’
گفت شحنه آنچ من هم می‌کنم ** حکم حقست ای دو چشم روشنم
If any one take a radish from a (greengrocer's) shop, saying, ‘This is decreed by God, O man of understanding,’3060
از دکانی گر کسی تربی برد ** کین ز حکم ایزدست ای با خرد