For if he drink poison, it turns to honey; (but) if you eat honey, it is poison (to you);3430
کاو اگر زهری خورد شهدی شود ** تو اگر شهدی خوری زهری بود
For he has been changed, and his action has been changed: he has become the Grace (of God), and every fire in him has been turned into Light.
کاو بدل گشت و بدل شد کار او ** لطف گشت و نور شد هر نار او
The abábíl (swifts) had the power of God (in them); else, how should a bird kill an elephant?
قوت حق بود مر بابیل را ** ور نه مرغی چون کشد مر پیل را
A number of little birds broke an (entire) army—so that you may know that that strength is from God.
لشکری را مرغکی چندی شکست ** تا بدانی کان صلابت از حق است
If temptation of this kind come to you, go, read the Súra concerning the Possessors of the Elephant.
گر تو را وسواس آید زین قبیل ** رو بخوان تو سورهی اصحاب فیل
And if you contend and engage in rivalry with him (the saint), deem me an infidel if you save your head from them.3435
ور کنی با او مری و همسری ** کافرم دان گر تو ز ایشان سر بری
How the mouse pulled (the rope attached to) the camel's nose-ring and became self conceited.
کشیدن موش مهار شتر را و متعجب شدن موش در خود
A little mouse caught in his forelegs a camel's leading-rope and from emulation went off (with it).
موشکی در کف مهار اشتری ** در ربود و شد روان او از مری
By reason of the readiness with which the camel set out along with him, the mouse was duped into thinking himself a hero.
اشتر از چستی که با او شد روان ** موش غره شد که هستم پهلوان
The ray of his thought struck the camel. He (the camel) said (aside), “I will show thee (presently)! Enjoy thyself!”
بر شتر زد پرتو اندیشهاش ** گفت بنمایم ترا تو باش خوش
(All went well) till he (the mouse) came to the bank of a great river, at which any lion or wolf would have lost heart.
تا بیامد بر لب جوی بزرگ ** کاندر او گشتی زبون پیل سترگ
There the mouse stopped and became paralysed. The camel said, “O my companion o’er hill and plain,3440
موش آن جا ایستاد و خشک گشت ** گفت اشتر ای رفیق کوه و دشت
What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!
این توقف چیست حیرانی چرا ** پا بنه مردانه اندر جو در آ
Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”
تو قلاووزی و پیش آهنگ من ** در میان ره مباش و تن مزن
He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”
گفت این آب شگرف است و عمیق ** من همیترسم ز غرقاب ای رفیق
Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
“The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”3445
گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش
He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”3450
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه
Be a vassal since you are not a lord: do not steer (the boat) yourself, since you are not the boatman.
تو رعیت باش چون سلطان نهای ** خود مران چون مرد کشتیبان نهای