He never breaks off his pursuit of any human being: how should he abandon his wicked disposition and nature?
از پی هر آدمی او نسکلد ** خو و طبع زشت خود او کی هلد
For, without any cause, his essential malignity pulls him on to (commit) injustice and tyranny.
زانک خبث ذات او بیموجبی ** هست سوی ظلم و عدوان جاذبی
He continually invites thee to a spacious tent in order that he may cast thee into a pit,
هر زمان خواند ترا تا خرگهی ** که در اندازد ترا اندر چهی
Saying, “In such and such a place there is a tank of water and (many) fountains,” that he may cast thee headlong into the tank.
که فلان جا حوض آبست و عیون ** تا در اندازد به حوضت سرنگون
That accursed one caused an Adam, notwithstanding all his inspiration and insight, to fall into woe and bane,2610
آدمی را با همه وحی و نظر ** اندر افکند آن لعین در شور و شر
Without any sin (having been committed against him) and without any previous harm having been wrongfully done to him by Adam.
بیگناهی بیگزند سابقی ** که رسد او را ز آدم ناحقی
The fox replied, “It was a spell of magic that appeared in your eyes as a lion;
گفت روبه آن طلسم سحر بود ** که ترا در چشم آن شیری نمود
Else I am more puny in body than you, and I always feed there by night and day.
ورنه من از تو به تن مسکینترم ** که شب و روز اندر آنجا میچرم
If he (the magician) had not wrought a spell of that kind, every famishing (animal) would have run thither.
گرنه زان گونه طلسمی ساختی ** هر شکمخواری بدانجا تاختی
(In) a foodless world full of elephants and rhinoceroses how should the meadow have remained verdant without (the protection of) a spell?2615
یک جهان بینوا پر پیل و ارج ** بیطلسمی کی بماندی سبز مرج
Truly, I meant to tell you, by way of instruction, not to be afraid if you should see a terrible thing like that;
من ترا خود خواستم گفتن به درس ** که چنان هولی اگر بینی مترس
But I forgot to impart (this) knowledge to you, because I was overwhelmed with grief and pity on your account.
لیک رفت از یاد علم آموزیت ** که بدم مستغرق دلسوزیت
I saw you were ravenously hungry and without food, (therefore) I was making haste so that you might attain to the remedy;
دیدمت در جوع کلب و بینوا ** میشتابیدم که آیی تا دوا
Otherwise I would have explained the spell to you: it (the lion) presents itself as an apparition, it is not a (real) body.”
ورنه با تو گفتمی شرح طلسم ** که آن خیالی مینماید نیست جسم
The reply of the ass to the fox.
جواب گفتن خر روباه را
“Hark,” cried the ass, “begone, begone from my presence, O enemy, that I may not see your face, O ugly one!2620
گفت رو رو هین ز پیشم ای عدو ** تا نبینم روی تو ای زشترو
That God who made you ill-fated hath made your ugly face detestable and impudent.
آن خدایی که ترا بدبخت کرد ** روی زشتت را کریه و سخت کرد
With what face do you come to me? The rhinoceros has not such a hard skin (as you have).
با کدامین روی میآیی به من ** این چنین سغری ندارد کرگدن
You manifestly attempted to shed my life-blood, saying, ‘I will guide you to the meadow,’
رفتهای در خون جانم آشکار ** که ترا من رهبرم تا مرغزار
So that I beheld the face of Azrael; (now) again you have brought cunning and plausible suggestion (to bear on me).
تا بدیدم روی عزرائیل را ** باز آوردی فن و تسویل را
Though I am a disgrace to the asses or an ass (myself), (yet) I am possessed of life, I have a vital spirit: how should I purchase (accept and believe) this (palaver)?2625
گرچه من ننگ خرانم یا خرم ** جانورم جان دارم این را کی خرم
If a child had seen the pitiless horror that I saw, it would instantly have become old.
آنچ من دیدم ز هول بیامان ** طفل دیدی پیر گشتی در زمان
Deprived of heart and soul by dread of that awful object, I threw myself headlong from the mountain.
بیدل و جان از نهیب آن شکوه ** سرنگون خود را در افکندم ز کوه
My legs were tied (paralysed) by terror as soon as I perceived that (cruel) torment without (any) barrier (between it and me).
بسته شد پایم در آن دم از نهیب ** چون بدیدم آن عذاب بیحجاب
I made a promise to God, crying, ‘O gracious One, do Thou loose my legs from this bondage,
عهد کردم با خدا کای ذوالمنن ** برگشا زین بستگی تو پای من
So that henceforth I may not listen to any one's temptation: I promise, I vow (that I will not listen), O Helper!’2630
تا ننوشم وسوسهی کس بعد ازین ** عهد کردم نذر کردم ای معین