(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
Since you are not (spiritually) perfect, do not take a shop (by yourself) alone. Be pliant to the hand, in order that you may become leavened (like dough).3455
چون نهای کامل دکان تنها مگیر ** دستخوش میباش تا گردی خمیر
Give ear to (the Divine command), “Keep silence,” be mute; since you have not become the tongue (mouthpiece) of God, be an ear.
أنصتوا را گوش کن خاموش باش ** چون زبان حق نگشتی گوش باش
And if you speak, speak in the form of a request for explanation: speak to the (spiritual) emperors as a lowly beggar.
ور بگویی شکل استفسار گو ** با شهنشاهان تو مسکینوار گو
The beginning of pride and hatred is in (worldly) lust, and the rootedness of your lust is from habit.
ابتدای کبر و کین از شهوت است ** راسخی شهوتت از عادت است
When an evil disposition becomes confirmed by habit, you are enraged with any one who restrains you.
چون ز عادت گشت محکم خوی بد ** خشم آید بر کسی کت واکشد
After you have become an eater of clay, any one who restrains you from (eating) clay is your enemy.3460
چون که تو گل خوار گشتی هر که او ** واکشد از گل ترا باشد عدو
Since idolaters are devoted to the idol, they are foes to them that prevent their access (to it).
بت پرستان چون که خو با بت کنند ** مانعان راه بت را دشمنند
Since Iblís had become accustomed to being leader, he in his folly regarded Adam with contempt.
چون که کرد ابلیس خو با سروری ** دید آدم را حقیر او از خری
Saying, “Is there another leader superior to me, so that he should be worshipped by one like me?”
که به از من سروری دیگر بود ** تا که او مسجود چون من کس شود