The scent of the rose is for organs of smell, O bold man: this hole below is not the place for that scent.
بوی گل بهر مشامست ای دلیر ** جای آن بو نیست این سوراخ زیر
How should the scent of Paradise come to thee from this place? If thou requirest the (sweet) scent, seek it from its (proper) place.
کی ازین جا بوی خلد آید ترا ** بو ز موضع جو اگر باید ترا
Likewise, “love of country” is right, (but) first, O master, know (what really is) thy country.2230
هم‌چنین حب الوطن باشد درست ** تو وطن بشناس ای خواجه نخست
That sagacious fish said, “I will journey, I will withdraw my heart from their advice and counsel.”
گفت آن ماهی زیرک ره کنم ** دل ز رای و مشورتشان بر کنم
’Tis no time for counsel. Hark, journey! Like ‘Alí, sigh (the secret) into the well.
نیست وقت مشورت هین راه کن ** چون علی تو آه اندر چاه کن
Very seldom is there found a fit confidant for that sigh: go by night and let thy movement be hidden, like (that of) the night-patrol.
محرم آن آه کم‌یابست بس ** شب رو و پنهان‌روی کن چون عسس
Set out from this lake towards the sea: seek the sea and take leave of this whirlpool.
سوی دریا عزم کن زین آب‌گیر ** بحر جو و ترک این گرداب گیر
That wary (fish) made its breast o afoot (swam away) and was going from its perilous abode to the sea of light,2235
سینه را پا ساخت می‌رفت آن حذور ** از مقام با خطر تا بحر نور
Like the deer of which a dog is in pursuit and which keeps running so long as there is a single nerve in its body.
هم‌چو آهو کز پی او سگ بود ** می‌دود تا در تنش یک رگ بود
Hare’s sleep (heedlessness) with the dog in pursuit is a sin: how indeed is sleep (dwelling) in the eye of him who hath fear?
خواب خرگوش و سگ اندر پی خطاست ** خواب خود در چشم ترسنده کجاست
That fish departed and took the way to the sea: it took the far way and the vast expanse.
رفت آن ماهی ره دریا گرفت ** راه دور و پهنه‌ی پهنا گرفت
It suffered many afflictions, and in the end it went after all towards safety and welfare.
رنجها بسیار دید و عاقبت ** رفت آخر سوی امن و عافیت
It cast itself into the deep Sea whose bound no eye can reach.2240
خویشتن افکند در دریای ژرف ** که نیابد حد آن را هیچ طرف
So when the fishermen brought their net (to the lake), the half-intelligent (fish) was bitterly grieved thereat.
پس چو صیادان بیاوردند دام ** نیم‌عاقل را از آن شد تلخ کام
And said, “Alas, I have lost the opportunity: how did not I accompany that guide?
گفت اه من فوت کردم فرصه را ** چون نگشتم همره آن رهنما
He went off suddenly, but seeing that he went I ought to have gone after him in hot haste.”
ناگهان رفت او ولیکن چونک رفت ** می‌ببایستم شدن در پی بتفت
‘Tis wrong to regret the past: what is gone will not come back: to remember it is of no avail.
بر گذشته حسرت آوردن خطاست ** باز ناید رفته یاد آن هباست
Story of the captive bird which gave the (following) injunctions: do not feel sorrow for what is past, think about taking precaution for the present (need), and do not spend time in repenting.
قصه‌ی آن مرغ گرفته کی وصیت کرد کی بر گذشته پشیمانی مخور تدارک وقت اندیش و روزگار مبر در پشیمانی
A certain man caught a bird by guile and trap: the bird said to him, “O noble sire,2245
آن یکی مرغی گرفت از مکر و دام ** مرغ او را گفت ای خواجه‌ی همام
Thou hast eaten many oxen and sheep, thou hast sacrificed many camels;
به تو بسی گاوان و میشان خورده‌ای ** تو بسی اشتر به قربان کرده‌ای
Thou hast never in the world been sated by them, neither wilt thou be sated by my limbs.
تو نگشتی سیر زانها در زمن ** هم نگردی سیر از اجزای من
Let me go, that I may bestow on thee three counsels, that thou mayst perceive whether I am wise or foolish.
هل مرا تا که سه پندت بر دهم ** تا بدانی زیرکم یا ابلهم
(I will give thee) the first of those counsels on thy hand, the second of them on thy plastered roof,
اول آن پند هم در دست تو ** ثانیش بر بام کهگل بست تو
And the third counsel I will give thee on a tree. (Let me go), for thou wilt become fortunate through these three counsels.2250
وآن سوم پند دهم من بر درخت ** که ازین سه پند گردی نیکبخت
(As for) that saying which is (to be said) on thy hand, ’tis this: ‘do not believe an absurdity (when thou hearest it) from any one.’”
آنچ بر دستست اینست آن سخن ** که محالی را ز کس باور مکن
When it (the bird) had uttered the first grave counsel on his palm, it became free and went (to perch) on the wall (of his house),
بر کفش چون گفت اول پند زفت ** گشت آزاد و بر آن دیوار رفت