O thou who hast grappled with a lion, declare the plan which thou hast thought of.
ای که با شیری تو در پیچیده‌‌ای ** باز گو رایی که اندیشیده‌‌ای
Counsel gives perception and understanding: the mind is helped by (other) minds.
مشورت ادراک و هشیاری دهد ** عقلها مر عقل را یاری دهد
The Prophet said, ‘O adviser, take counsel (with the trustworthy), for he whose counsel is sought is trusted.’”
گفت پیغمبر بکن ای رایزن ** مشورت کالمستشار موتمن
How the hare withheld the secret from them.
منع کردن خرگوش راز را از ایشان
He said, “One ought not to say forth every secret: sometimes the even number turns out to be odd, and sometimes the odd number to be even.”1045
گفت هر رازی نشاید باز گفت ** جفت طاق آید گهی گه طاق جفت
If from guilelessness you breathe words to a mirror, the mirror at once becomes dim to us.
از صفا گر دم زنی با آینه ** تیره گردد زود با ما آینه
Do not move your lip in explanation of these three things, (namely) concerning your departure and your gold and your religion;
در بیان این سه کم جنبان لبت ** از ذهاب و از ذهب وز مذهبت
For to these three there is many an adversary and foe standing in wait for you when he knows (about any of them).
کین سه را خصم است بسیار و عدو ** در کمینت ایستد چون داند او
And if you tell (only) one or two (a few people), farewell (to your secret): every secret that goes beyond the twain (who share it) is published abroad.
ور بگویی با یکی دو الوداع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع
If you tie two or three birds together, they will remain on the ground, imprisoned by grief;1050
گر دو سه پرنده را بندی به هم ** بر زمین مانند محبوس از الم
(But in truth) they hold a consultation well-disguised and mingled, in its (apparent) significance, with that which casts error (into the mind of any one who observes them).
مشورت دارند سرپوشیده خوب ** در کنایت با غلط افکن مشوب
(Similarly) the Prophet used to take counsel, (speaking) cryptically, and they (his companions) would answer him and (would be) without knowledge (of his real meaning).
مشورت کردی پیمبر بسته سر ** گفته ایشانش جواب و بی‌‌خبر
He would speak his opinion in a covert parable, in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
در مثالی بسته گفتی رای را ** تا نداند خصم از سر پای را
He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary), while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
او جواب خویش بگرفتی از او ** وز سؤالش می‌‌نبردی غیر بو
The story of the hare's stratagem.
قصه‌‌ی مکر خرگوش
He delayed awhile in going, then he went before the lion who rends (his prey) with claws.1055
ساعتی تاخیر کرد اندر شدن ** بعد از آن شد پیش شیر پنجه زن
Because he tarried late in going, the lion was tearing up the earth and roaring.
ز آن سبب کاندر شدن او ماند دیر ** خاک را می‌‌کند و می‌‌غرید شیر
“I said,” cried the lion, “that the promise of those vile ones would be vain—vain and frail and unfulfilled.
گفت من گفتم که عهد آن خسان ** خام باشد خام و سست و نارسان
Their palaver has duped me: how long will this Time deceive me, how long?”
دمدمه‌‌ی ایشان مرا از خر فگند ** چند بفریبد مرا این دهر چند
The prince that hath no strength in his beard is left sorely in the lurch when by reason of his folly he looks neither backwards nor forwards.
سخت درماند امیر سست ریش ** چون نه پس بیند نه پیش از احمقیش
The road is smooth, and under it are pitfalls: amidst the names there is a dearth of meaning.1060
راه هموار است و زیرش دامها ** قحط معنی در میان نامها
Words and names are like pitfalls: the sweet (flattering) word is the sand for (the sand that sucks up) the water of our life.
لفظها و نامها چون دامهاست ** لفظ شیرین ریگ آب عمر ماست
The one sand whence water gushes is seldom to be found: go, seek it.
آن یکی ریگی که جوشد آب ازو ** سخت کمیاب است رو آن را بجو
He that searches after wisdom becomes a fountain of wisdom; he becomes independent of acquisition and (ways and) means.
منبع حکمت شود حکمت طلب ** فارغ آید او ز تحصیل و سبب
The guarding tablet becomes a Guarded Tablet; his understanding becomes enriched by the Spirit.
لوح حافظ لوح محفوظی شود ** عقل او از روح محظوظی شود
When his understanding has been his teacher at the beginning, after this the understanding becomes his pupil.1065
چون معلم بود عقلش ز ابتدا ** بعد از این شد عقل شاگردی و را
The understanding says, like Gabriel, “O Ahmad (Mohammed), if I take one (more) step, it will burn me;
عقل چون جبریل گوید احمدا ** گر یکی گامی نهم سوزد مرا