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
Then I will turn my belly upwards and my back downwards and will move on the water.
پس برآرم اشکم خود بر زبر ** پشت زیر و می‌روم بر آب بر
I will move upon it as weeds move, not by swimming as a person (swimmer) does.2270
می‌روم بر وی چنانک خس رود ** نی بسباحی چنانک کس رود
I will become dead, I will commit myself to the water: to die before death is to be safe from torment.”
مرده گردم خویش بسپارم به آب ** مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست از عذاب
To die before death is to be safe, O youth: even so hath Mustafa (Mohammad) commanded us.
مرگ پیش از مرگ امنست ای فتی ** این چنین فرمود ما را مصطفی
He said, “Die, all of you, ere death come, else ye will die with (the certainty of suffering) sore afflictions (hereafter).”
گفت موتواکلکم من قبل ان ** یاتی الموت تموتوا بالفتن
He (the fish) died in that manner and threw his belly upwards: the water was carrying him, now alow, now aloft.
هم‌چنان مرد و شکم بالا فکند ** آب می‌بردش نشیب و گه بلند
Every one of those pursuers (the fishermen) bore great vexation (in his heart), saying, “Alas, the best fish is dead.”2275
هر یکی زان قاصدان بس غصه برد ** که دریغا ماهی بهتر بمرد
He (the fish) was made glad by their saying “Alas”: (he said to himself), “This trick of mine has come off, I am delivered from the sword.”
شاد می‌شد او کز آن گفت دریغ ** پیش رفت این بازیم رستم ز تیغ
Then a worthy fisherman seized him and spat on him and flung him on the ground.
پس گرفتش یک صیاد ارجمند ** پس برو تف کرد و بر خاکش فکند
He (the half-intelligent fish), rolling over and over, went secretly into the water; the (entirely) foolish one remained (where he was), moving to and fro in agitation.
غلط غلطان رفت پنهان اندر آب ** ماند آن احمق همی‌کرد اضطراب
That simpleton kept leaping about, right and left, in order that he might save his skin by his own efforts.
از چپ و از راست می‌جست آن سلیم ** تا بجهد خویش برهاند گلیم
They cast the net, and he (at last) remained in the net: foolish ness ensconced him in that fire (of perdition).2280
دام افکندند و اندر دام ماند ** احمقی او را در آن آتش نشاند