All except God are enemies: He (alone) is the Friend: how is it good (seemly) to complain of a friend to an enemy?
غیر حق جمله عدواند اوست دوست ** با عدو از دوست شکوت کی نکوست
So long as He gives me buttermilk I will not desire honey, for every pleasure has a pain joined with it.”2360
تا دهد دوغم نخواهم انگبین ** زانک هر نعمت غمی دارد قرین
Story of an ass belonging to a seller of firewood, which saw some well-fed Arab horses in the royal stable and wished for the same fortune. (This story is intended) to convey the lesson that one ought not to wish for anything but (God's) forgiveness and favour; for though you are in a hundred kinds of pain, they all become sweet (to you) when you feel the delight of being forgiven; and for the rest, every fortune that you wish for before you have experienced it is accompanied by a pain which you do not perceive (at the moment); as (for example) in every trap the bait is visible while the snare is concealed. You (who) have been caught in this one trap are (still) wishing (and saying to yourself), “Would that I had gone after those (other) baits!” You fancy that those baits are without a trap.
حکایت دیدن خر هیزم‌فروش با نوایی اسپان تازی را بر آخر خاص و تمنا بردن آن دولت را در موعظه‌ی آنک تمنا نباید بردن الا مغفرت و عنایت و هدایت کی اگر در صد لون رنجی چون لذت مغفرت بود همه شیرین شود باقی هر دولتی کی آن را ناآزموده تمنی می‌بری با آن رنجی قرینست کی آن را نمی‌بینی چنانک از هر دامی دانه پیدا بود و فخ پنهان تو درین یک دام مانده‌ای تمنی می‌بری کی کاشکی با آن دانه‌ها رفتمی پنداری کی آن دانه‌ها بی‌دامست
There was a water-carrier who owned an ass that had been bent double like a
بود سقایی مرورا یک خری ** گشته از محنت دو تا چون چنبری
hoop by affliction. Its back was galled by the heavy load in a hundred places: it was passionately desiring the day of its death.
پشتش از بار گران صد جای ریش ** عاشق و جویان روز مرگ خویش
What of barley? It never got its fill (even) of dry straw: at its heels a (cruel) blow and an iron goad.
جو کجا از کاه خشک او سیر نی ** در عقب زخمی و سیخی آهنی
The Master of the (royal) stable saw it and took pity—for the man was acquainted with the owner of the ass—
میر آخر دید او را رحم کرد ** که آشنای صاحب خر بود مرد
So he saluted him and asked him what had happened, saying, “What is the cause of this ass being bent double like a dál?”2365
پس سلامش کرد و پرسیدش ز حال ** کز چه این خر گشت دوتا هم‌چو دال
He replied, “On account of my poverty and destitution this dumb animal is not getting even straw.”
گفت از درویشی و تقصیر من ** که نمی‌یابد خود این بسته‌دهن
“Hand him over to me,” said the other, “for a few days, that in the King's stable he may grow strong.”
گفت بسپارش به من تو روز چند ** تا شود در آخر شه زورمند
He handed the ass over to him, and that merciful man tethered him in the Sultan's stable.
خر بدو بسپرد و آن رحمت‌پرست ** در میان آخر سلطانش بست
The ass saw on every side (of him) Arab horses, well-fed and fat and handsome and glossy;
خر ز هر سو مرکب تازی بدید ** با نوا و فربه و خوب و جدید
(He saw the ground) swept (clean) under their feet and sprinkled with water; the straw coming at the (proper) time, and the barley at the hour (when it was expected).2370
زیر پاشان روفته آبی زده ** که به وقت وجو به هنگام آمده
He saw the horses curry-combed and rubbed down. (Then) he lifted up his muzzle, crying, “O glorious Lord,
خارش و مالش مر اسپان را بدید ** پوز بالا کرد کای رب مجید
Am not I Thy creature? I grant that I am an ass, (but) wherefore am I wretched, with sores on my back, and lean?
نه که مخلوق توم گیرم خرم ** از چه زار و پشت ریش و لاغرم
At night, because of the pain in my back and the (pangs of) hunger in my belly, I am always wishing to die.
شب ز درد پشت و از جوع شکم ** آرزومندم به مردن دم به دم
These horses are so happy and prosperous: why am I singled out for torment and tribulation?”
حال این اسپان چنین خوش با نوا ** من چه مخصوصم به تعذیب و بلا
Suddenly came the rumour of war: ’twas the time for the Arab horses to be saddled and brought into action.2375
ناگهان آوازه‌ی پیگار شد ** تازیان را وقت زین و کار شد