It wishes that, (to save it) from this unwelcome plucking (of its feathers), there might be a hundred cages round about this cage (in which it is confined).
او همی‌خواهد کزین ناخوش حصص ** صد قفص باشد بگرد این قفص
The love of (a) Galen is for this present life, for only here does his art avail; he has not practised any art that avails in yonder market: there he sees himself to be the same as the vulgar.
عشق جالینوس برین حیات دنیا بود کی هنر او همینجا بکار می‌آید هنری نورزیده است کی در آن بازار بکار آید آنجا خود را به عوام یکسان می‌بیند
That is even as wise Galen said on account of (his) passion for this world and because of what he desired (in it)—3960
آنچنانک گفت جالینوس راد ** از هوای این جهان و از مراد
“I am content that (only) half of my vital spirit should remain, so that I may see the world through the arse of a mule.”
راضیم کز من بماند نیم جان ** که ز کون استری بینم جهان
He sees around him cats in troops: his bird has despaired of flying;
گربه می‌بیند بگرد خود قطار ** مرغش آیس گشته بودست از مطار
Or he has deemed all except this world to be non-existence and has not perceived in non-existence a hidden resurrection.
یا عدم دیدست غیر این جهان ** در عدم نادیده او حشری نهان
Like the embryo which (the Divine) Bounty is drawing forth: it is fleeing back towards the belly.
چون جنین کش می‌کشد بیرون کرم ** می‌گریزد او سپس سوی شکم
(The Divine) Grace is turning its (the embryo's) face towards the place of exit, (while) it (the embryo) is making its abode in the mother's loins,3965
لطف رویش سوی مصدر می‌کند ** او مقر در پشت مادر می‌کند
Saying, “Oh, I wonder, if I fall outside of this city and (abode of) pleasure, shall I see with my eye this dwelling-place;
که اگر بیرون فتم زین شهر و کام ** ای عجب بینم بدیده این مقام
Or would there be in that noisome city a door, so that I might gaze into the womb,
یا دری بودی در آن شهر وخم ** که نظاره کردمی اندر رحم
Or would there be for me a path, (narrow) as the eye of a needle, so that the womb might become visible to me from outside?”
یا چو چشمه‌ی سوزنی راهم بدی ** که ز بیرونم رحم دیده شدی
That embryo, too, is unaware of a world (outside): it is one unfamiliar (therewith), like Galen.
آن جنین هم غافلست از عالمی ** همچو جالینوس او نامحرمی
It does not know that the humours which exist (in the womb) are supplied (to it) from the external world,3970
اونداند کن رطوباتی که هست ** آن مدد از عالم بیرونیست
Even as the four elements in this world obtain a hundred supplies (means of support) from the City beyond space.
آنچنانک چار عنصر در جهان ** صد مدد آرد ز شهر لامکان
If it has found water and seeds in its cage, those have appeared (there) from a Garden and Expanse.
آب و دانه در قفص گر یافتست ** آن ز باغ و عرصه‌ای درتافتست
The spirits of the prophets behold the Garden from this cage at the time of their being transported and freed (from the body);
جانهای انبیا بینند باغ ** زین قفص در وقت نقلان و فراغ
Hence they are free of Galen and the world: they are shining like the moon in the skies.
پس ز جالینوس و عالم فارغند ** همچو ماه اندر فلکها بازغند
And if this saying (as related) from Galen is a fiction, then my answer is not for Galen,3975
ور ز جالینوس این گفت افتراست ** پس جوابم بهر جالینوس نیست
(But) this is the answer to the person who said it, for the luminous heart has not been his mate.
این جواب آنکس آمد کین بگفت ** که نبودستش دل پر نور جفت
The bird, his spirit, became a mouse seeking a hole, when it heard from the cats (the cry), “Halt ye!”
مرغ جانش موش شد سوراخ‌جو ** چون شنید از گربگان او عرجوا
On that account his spirit, mouse-like, deemed its home and abode to be in this world-hole.
زان سبب جانش وطن دید و قرار ** اندرین سوراخ دنیا موش‌وار
In this hole, too, it began to build and acquired a knowledge suitable to the hole;
هم درین سوراخ بنایی گرفت ** درخور سوراخ دانایی گرفت
It chose the trades advantageous to it, which would be of use in this hole.3980
پیشه‌هایی که مرورا در مزید ** کاندرین سوراخ کار آید گزید
Inasmuch as it turned its heart away from (relinquished the desire for) going forth, the way of deliverance from the body was barred.
زانک دل بر کند از بیرون شدن ** بسته شد راه رهیدن از بدن
If the spider had the nature of the ‘Anqá, how should it have reared a tent (made) of some gossamer?
عنکبوت ار طبع عنقا داشتی ** از لعابی خیمه کی افراشتی
The cat has put its claws into the cage: the name of its claws is pain and delirium and gripes.
گربه کرده چنگ خود اندر قفص ** نام چنگش درد و سرسام و مغص