Doubtless ’tis irreverence on our part, ’tis ingratitude and an act of self-will,
بی‌گمان ترک ادب باشد ز ما ** کفر نعمت باشد و فعل هوا
But most minds in (their) thinking are lovers of darkness, like the bat.
لیک اغلب هوش‌ها در افتکار ** هم‌چو خفاشند ظلمت دوستدار
If the bat eats a worm during the night, (yet it is) the Sun (that) fosters the life of the worm.
در شب ار خفاش کرمی می‌خورد ** کرم را خورشید جان می‌پرورد
If the bat is intoxicated with (the pleasure of eating) a worm during the night, (yet it is) by the Sun (that) the worm has been caused to move.
در شب ار خفاش از کرمیست مست ** کرم از خورشید جنبنده شدست
The Sun whence radiance gushes forth is giving food to his enemy.3395
آفتابی که ضیا زو می‌زهد ** دشمن خود را نواله می‌دهد
But (in the case of) the royal falcon which is not a bat and whose falcon-eye is seeing truly and is clear,
لیک شهبازی که او خفاش نیست ** چشم بازش راست‌بین و روشنیست
If it, like the bat, seek increase (of sustenance) during the night, the Sun will rub its ear (chastise it) in correction,
گر به شب جوید چو خفاش او نمو ** در ادب خورشید مالد گوش او
And will say to it, “I grant that the perverse bat has an infirmity, (but) anyhow what is the matter with you?
گویدش گیرم که آن خفاش لد ** علتی دارد ترا باری چه شد
I will chastise you severely with affliction, in order that you may not again turn your head away from the Sun.”
مالشت بدهم به زجر از اکتیاب ** تا نتابی سر دگر از آفتاب
How Joseph the Siddíq (truthful witness)—the blessings of God be upon him!—was punished with imprisonment “for several years” because of his seeking help from another than God and saying (to him), “Mention me in thy lord's presence,” together with the exposition thereof.
ماخذه‌ی یوسف صدیق صلوات‌الله علیه به حبس بضع سنین به سبب یاری خواستن از غیر حق و گفتن اذکرنی عند ربک مع تقریره
That is like Joseph's (asking help) of a (fellow-) prisoner, a needy abject groundling.3400
آنچنان که یوسف از زندانیی ** با نیازی خاضعی سعدانیی