- Like the owls, we have become hostile to the falcons: consequently we are left behind (to dwell) in the place of ruin.
- همچو جغدان دشمن بازان شدیم ** لاجرم واماندهی ویران شدیم
- Because of (our) extreme ignorance and blindness we are seeking to hurt those honoured of God.
- میکنیم از غایت جهل و عما ** قصد آزار عزیزان خدا
- How should the flock of birds which are enlightened by Solomon tear out the wings and plumes of the innocent?
- جمع مرغان کز سلیمان روشنند ** پر و بال بیگنه کی بر کنند
- Nay, they would bring grain to the helpless ones: gentle are those birds and without pugnacity or hatred. 3750
- بلکه سوی عاجزان چینه کشند ** بیخلاف و کینه آن مرغان خوشند
- Their hoopoe, for the sake of glorifying (Solomon), unfolds the way (towards Him) to a hundred like Bilqís.
- هدهد ایشان پی تقدیس را ** میگشاید راه صد بلقیس را
- Their crow, (even) if it was a crow in outward aspect, was (really) a falcon in aspiration and (one whose gaze) turned not aside.
- زاغ ایشان گر به صورت زاغ بود ** باز همت آمد و ما زاغ بود
- Their stork, which cries lak lak, casts upon doubt (and disbelief) the fire of the profession of Unity;
- لکلک ایشان که لک لک میزند ** آتش توحید در شک میزند
- And their dove is not scared by hawks: the hawk lays his head (in homage) before their dove.
- و آن کبوترشان ز بازان نشکهد ** باز سر پیش کبوترشان نهد
- Their nightingale, which throws thee into ecstasy, hath the rose-garden in its heart. 3755
- بلبل ایشان که حالت آرد او ** در درون خویش گلشن دارد او
- Their parrot was (always) independent of sugar, for the sugar of everlastingness showed its face (was revealed) to it from within.
- طوطی ایشان ز قند آزاد بود ** کز درون قند ابد رویش نمود
- The feet of their peacocks are fairer to see than (all) others in peacock's plumage.
- پای طاوسان ایشان در نظر ** بهتر از طاوس پران دگر
- The speeches of princely birds are (meaningless as) an echo: where is the speech of the birds of Solomon?
- منطق الطیران خاقانی صداست ** منطق الطیر سلیمانی کجاست
- How wilt thou know the cries of the birds, when thou hast never seen Solomon for a single moment?
- تو چه دانی بانگ مرغان را همی ** چون ندیدهستی سلیمان را دمی
- The wings of that bird whose note thrills (them that can hear it) are beyond East and West. 3760
- پر آن مرغی که بانگش مطرب است ** از برون مشرق است و مغرب است
- Its every course is from the Footstool of God to the earth, and from the earth to the Throne of God it moves in glory and majesty.
- هر یک آهنگش ز کرسی تاثری است ** وز ثری تا عرش در کر و فری است
- The bird that goes without this Solomon is in love with darkness, like a bat.
- مرغ کاو بیاین سلیمان میرود ** عاشق ظلمت چو خفاشی بود
- Make thyself familiar with Solomon, O reprobate bat, in order that thou mayst not remain in darkness for ever.
- با سلیمان خو کن ای خفاش رد ** تا که در ظلمت نمانی تا ابد
- When thou goest one ell's length in that direction, like the ell thou wilt become the standard of measurement;
- یک گزی ره که بدان سو میروی ** همچو گز قطب مساحت میشوی
- And (even by) thy hopping lamely and limply in that direction, thou wilt be freed from all lameness and limpness. 3765
- و انکه لنگ و لوک آن سو میجهی ** از همه لنگی و لوکی میرهی
- The story of the ducklings which were fostered by a domestic fowl.
- قصهی بط بچگان که مرغ خانگی پروردشان
- Thou art the offspring of a duck, though a domestic fowl has fostered thee as a nurse beneath her wing.
- تخم بطی گر چه مرغ خانهات ** کرد زیر پر چو دایه تربیت
- Thy mother was the duck of that Sea; thy nurse was of the earth and devoted to the dry land.
- مادر تو بط آن دریا بدهست ** دایهات خاکی بد و خشکی پرست
- The desire which is in thy heart for the Sea—thy soul hath that nature (instinct) from thy mother.
- میل دریا که دل تو اندر است ** آن طبیعت جانت را از مادر است
- The desire thou hast for the dry land is from this nurse. Leave the nurse, for she is an evil counsellor.
- میل خشکی مر ترا زین دایه است ** دایه را بگذار کاو بد رایه است
- Leave the nurse on the dry land, and press on: come into the Sea of spiritual reality, like the ducks. 3770
- دایه را بگذار در خشک و بران ** اندر آن در بحر معنی چون بطان
- (Even) if thy mother should bid thee be afraid of the water, fear not thou, but push speedily into the Sea.
- گر ترا مادر بترساند ز آب ** تو مترس و سوی دریا ران شتاب