For nightingales the garden is the proper place; for the beetle the best home is in ordure.”
بلبلان را جای میزیبد چمن ** مر جعل را در چمین خوشتر وطن
Since God has kept me pure from filth, how were it seemly to appoint a foul one for (companionship with) me?
حق مرا چون از پلیدی پاک داشت ** چون سزد بر من پلیدی را گماشت
I had (in me) a vein of them (of their nature). He (God) cut it out: how (then) will he with the vein of evil attain unto me?
یک رگم ز ایشان بد و آن را برید ** در من آن بد رگ کجا خواهد رسید
One mark of Adam from eternity was this, that the angels should lay their heads (on the ground) before him, because it was his place (proper to his dignity).
یک نشان آدم آن بود از ازل ** که ملایک سر نهندش از محل
Another mark was that Iblís, saying, “I am the king and chief,” should not lay down his head before him.2120
یک نشان دیگر آن که آن بلیس ** ننهدش سر که منم شاه و رئیس
If, then, Iblís too had become a worshipper (of Adam), he (Adam) would not have been Adam: he would have been another.
پس اگر ابلیس هم ساجد شدی ** او نبودی آدم او غیری بدی
At once the worship of every angel is the test of him, and the denial (of him) by that enemy (Iblís) is the proof of him.
هم سجود هر ملک میزان اوست ** هم جحود آن عدو برهان اوست
At once the acknowledgment (made) by the angels is witness for him, and the disbelief of that petty cur (Iblís) is witness for him.
هم گواه اوست اقرار ملک ** هم گواه اوست کفران سگک
Conclusion of the (story concerning the) trust of that deluded man in the fawningness of the bear.
تتمه اعتماد آن مغرور بر تملق خرس
The man fell asleep, and the bear kept driving away the flies (which were) on him, but in spite of him they soon came back again.
شخص خفت و خرس میراندش مگس ** وز ستیز آمد مگس زو باز پس
Several times he drove them from the youth’s face, but soon they came hurrying back once more.2125
چند بارش راند از روی جوان ** آن مگس زو باز میآمد دوان
The bear was enraged with the flies and went off. He picked up a very big stone from the mountain-side.
خشمگین شد با مگس خرس و برفت ** بر گرفت از کوه سنگی سخت زفت
He fetched the stone, and saw the flies again settled comfortably on the face of the sleeper.
سنگ آورد و مگس را دید باز ** بر رخ خفته گرفته جای ساز
He took up that millstone and struck at the flies, in order that they might retire.
بر گرفت آن آسیا سنگ و بزد ** بر مگس تا آن مگس واپس خزد
The stone made powder of the sleeping man’s face, and published to the whole world this adage––.
سنگ روی خفته را خشخاش کرد ** این مثل بر جمله عالم فاش کرد
“The love of a fool is for sure the love of a bear: his hate is love and his love is hate.”2130
مهر ابله مهر خرس آمد یقین ** کین او مهر است و مهر اوست کین
His promise is infirm and corrupt and feeble; his word stout and his performance lean.
عهد او سست است و ویران و ضعیف ** گفت او زفت و وفای او نحیف
Do not believe him, even if he take an oath: the man whose speech is false will break his oath.