‘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
And said, “The second is, ‘do not grieve over (what is) past: when it has passed from thee, do not feel regret for it.’”
گفت دیگر بر گذشته غم مخور ** چون ز تو بگذشت زان حسرت مبر
After that, it said to him, “In my body is concealed a solitary (large and precious) pearl, ten dirhems in weight.
بعد از آن گفتش که در جسمم کتیم ** ده درمسنگست یک در یتیم
By thy soul's truth (as sure as thou livest), that jewel was thy fortune and the luck of thy children.2255
دولت تو بخت فرزندان تو ** بود آن گوهر به حق جان تو
Thou hast missed the pearl, for it was not thy appointed lot (to gain it)—a pearl the like of which is not in existence.”
فوت کردی در که روزی‌ات نبود ** که نباشد مثل آن در در وجود
Even as a woman big with child keeps wailing at the time of parturition, so the Khwája began to cry out clamorously.
آنچنان که وقت زادن حامله ** ناله دارد خواجه شد در غلغله
The bird said to him, “Did not I admonish thee, saying, ‘Let there be no grief in thee for what passed yesterday’?
مرغ گفتش نی نصیحت کردمت ** که مبادا بر گذشته‌ی دی غمت
Since it is past and gone, why art thou grieving? Either thou didst not understand my counsel or thou art deaf.
چون گذشت و رفت غم چون می‌خوری ** یا نکردی فهم پندم یا کری
And (as regards) the second counsel I gave thee, (namely), ‘Do not from misguidedness put any belief in an absurd statement,’2260
وان دوم پندت بگفتم کز ضلال ** هیچ تو باور مکن قول محال
O lion, I myself do not weigh ten dirhems: how should the weight of ten dirhems be within me?”
من نیم خود سه درمسنگ ای اسد ** ده درمسنگ اندرونم چون بود
The Khwája came back to himself (recovered his wits) and said, “Hark, disclose the third (piece of) excellent counsel.”
خواجه باز آمد به خود گفتا که هین ** باز گو آن پند خوب سیومین
“Yes,” said the bird, “thou hast made good use of those (former counsels), that I should tell (thee) the third counsel in vain!”
گفت آری خوش عمل کردی بدان ** تا بگویم پند ثالث رایگان
To give counsel to a sleepy ignoramus is to scatter seed in nitrous soil.
پند گفتن با جهول خوابناک ** تخت افکندن بود در شوره خاک
The rent of folly and ignorance does not admit of being patched up: do not give the seed of wisdom to him (the fool), O counsellor.2265
چاک حمق و جهل نپذیرد رفو ** تخم حکمت کم دهش ای پندگو
How the half-intelligent fish devised a means (of escape) and feigned to be dead.
چاره اندیشیدن آن ماهی نیم‌عاقل و خود را مرده کردن
The second fish said in the hour of tribulation, when he was left sundered from the shadow (protection) of the intelligent one,
گفت ماهی دگر وقت بلا ** چونک ماند از سایه‌ی عاقل جدا
“He hath gone towards the sea and is freed from sorrow: such a good comrade hath been lost to me!
کو سوی دریا شد و از غم عتیق ** فوت شد از من چنان نیکو رفیق
But I will not think of that and will attend to myself: at this (present) time I will feign to be dead.
لیک زان نندیشم و بر خود زنم ** خویشتن را این زمان مرده کنم