The nightingales are (flying) round the knobby blossom, saying, “Give us some of that which thou drinkest.”
بلبلان گرد شکوفه‌ی پر گره ** که از آنچ می‌خوری ما را بده
This discourse hath no end: return to the fox and the lion and the (lion's) sickness and hunger.
این سخن پایان ندارد کن رجوع ** سوی آن روباه و شیر و سقم و جوع
How the fox brought the ass to the lion, and how the ass jumped away from the lion, and how the fox reproached the lion, saying, “The ass was still far off: you were too hasty”; and how the lion made excuses and entreated the fox to go and trick him a second time.
بردن روبه خر را پیش شیر و جستن خر از شیر و عتاب کردن روباه با شیر کی هنوز خر دور بود تعجیل کردی و عذر گفتن شیر و لابه کردن روبه را شیر کی برو بار دگرش به فریب
When he (the fox) brought him (the ass) up the hill towards the meadow, in order that the lion might pulverise him with a (sudden) charge,
چونک بر کوهش بسوی مرج برد ** تا کند شیرش به حمله خرد و مرد
He (the ass) was (still) far from the lion, but the lion would not wait for him to come near before attacking.2565
دور بود از شیر و آن شیر از نبرد ** تا به نزدیک آمدن صبری نکرد
The terrible lion made a spring from an eminence, (though) indeed he had not the strength and power to move (effectively).
گنبدی کرد از بلندی شیر هول ** خود نبودش قوت و امکان حول
The ass saw him from afar and turned and fled to the bottom of the hill, dropping his shoes as he ran.
خر ز دورش دید و برگشت و گریز ** تا به زیر کوه تازان نعل ریز
“O king of us (all),” said the fox to the lion, “why didst not thou restrain thyself in the hour of battle,
گفت روبه شیر را ای شاه ما ** چون نکردی صبر در وقت وغا
In order that that misguided (creature) might come near thee and that thou might’st vanquish him with a small attack?
تا به نزدیک تو آید آن غوی ** تا باندک حمله‌ای غالب شوی
Precipitation and haste is the Devil's wile; patience and calculation is God's grace.2570
مکر شیطانست تعجیل و شتاب ** لطف رحمانست صبر و احتساب
He (the ass) was far off and saw the attack and fled: thy weakness is made manifest and thy prestige is destroyed.”
دور بود و حمله را دید و گریخت ** ضعف تو ظاهر شد و آب تو ریخت
He (the lion) replied, “I thought my strength was restored: I did not know my feebleness was so great.
گفت من پنداشتم بر جاست زور ** تا بدین حد می‌ندانستم فتور
Moreover, my hunger and need had passed beyond bounds: through starvation my patience and understanding had been lost.
نیز جوع و حاجتم از حد گذشت ** صبر و عقلم از تجوع یاوه گشت
If by (using) your wits you can reclaim him and bring him back once more,
گر توانی بار دیگر از خرد ** باز آوردن مر او را مسترد
I shall be much obliged to you: try hard, maybe you will fetch him by cunning.”2575
منت بسیار دارم از تو من ** جهد کن باشد بیاری‌اش به فن
“Yes,” said the fox, “if God should give (me) help and set a seal of blindness on his heart
گفت آری گر خدا یاری دهد ** بر دل او از عمی مهری نهد
(For) then he will forget the terror which he felt on seeing (thee): this will not be alien to his asininity.
پس فراموشش شود هولی که دید ** از خری او نباشد این بعید
But when I bring him, do not thou rush (at him), lest thou lose him again by overhaste.”
لیک چون آرم من او را بر متاز ** تا ببادش ندهی از تعجیل باز
“Yes,” replied the lion; “I have found by experience that I am very ill and that my body has become shaky.
گفت آری تجربه کردم که من ** سخت رنجورم مخلخل گشته تن
Until the ass comes quite near to me, I will not move, I will (apparently) be sound asleep.”2580
تا به نزدیکم نیاید خر تمام ** من نجنبم خفته باشم در قوام
(Thereupon) the fox departed, saying, “O king, (offer) a prayer that a (great) heedlessness may muffle his reason.
رفت روبه گفت ای شه همتی ** تا بپوشد عقل او را غفلتی
The ass has made vows of repentance to the Creator (and resolved) that he will not be duped by any ne’er-do-well.
توبه‌ها کردست خر با کردگار ** که نگردد غره‌ی هر نابکار
We by cunning will cause his vows to collapse, (for) we are the enemy of reason and of the splendid covenant (with God).
توبه‌هااش را به فن بر هم زنیم ** ما عدوی عقل و عهد روشنیم
The ass's head is a ball for our children: his thought is a plaything for our guile.”