There is in the world a green island where a sweet-mouthed cow lives alone.2855
یک جزیره‌ی سبز هست اندر جهان ** اندرو گاویست تنها خوش‌دهان
She feeds on the whole field till nightfall, so that she grows stout and big and choice.
جمله صحرا را چرد او تا به شب ** تا شود زفت و عظیم و منتجب
During the night she becomes thin as a hair from anxiety, because she thinks, “What shall I eat to-morrow?”
شب ز اندیشه که فردا چه خورم ** گردد او چون تار مو لاغر ز غم
At rise of dawn the field becomes green: the green blades and grain have grown up to (a man's) middle.
چون برآید صبح گردد سبز دشت ** تا میان رسته قصیل سبز و کشت
The cow falls to ravenously: till night she feeds on that (vegetation and devours it) entirely.
اندر افتد گاو با جوع البقر ** تا به شب آن را چرد او سر به سر
Again she becomes stout and fat and bulky: her body is filled with fat and strength.2860
باز زفت و فربه و لمتر شود ** آن تنش از پیه و قوت پر شود
Then again at night she (is stricken) by panic (and) falls into a fever (of anxiety), so that from fear of seeking (vainly) for fodder she becomes lean,
باز شب اندر تب افتد از فزع ** تا شود لاغر ز خوف منتجع
Thinking, “What shall I eat to-morrow at meal-time?” This is what that cow does for (many) years.
که چه خواهم خورد فردا وقت خور ** سالها اینست کار آن بقر
She never thinks, “All these years I have been eating from this meadow and this pasture;
هیچ نندیشد که چندین سال من ** می‌خورم زین سبزه‌زار و زین چمن
My provender has never failed (even) for a day: what, (then), is this fear and anguish and heart-burning of mine?”
هیچ روزی کم نیامد روزیم ** چیست این ترس و غم و دلسوزیم
(No); when night falls that stout cow becomes lean again, thinking, “Alas, the provender is gone.”2865
باز چون شب می‌شود آن گاو زفت ** می‌شود لاغر که آوه رزق رفت
The cow is the carnal soul, and the field is this world, where she (the carnal soul) is made lean by fear for her daily bread,
نفس آن گاوست و آن دشت این جهان ** کو همی لاغر شود از خوف نان
Thinking, “I wonder what I shall eat in the future: whence shall I seek food for to-morrow?”
که چه خواهم خورد مستقبل عجب ** لوت فردا از کجا سازم طلب
Thou hast eaten for years, and food has never failed: leave the future and look at the past.
سالها خوردی و کم نامد ز خور ** ترک مستقبل کن و ماضی نگر
Bring to mind the food and viands thou hast eaten (already): do not regard what is to come, and do not be miserable.
لوت و پوت خورده را هم یاد آر ** منگر اندر غابر و کم باش زار
How the lion made the ass his prey, and being thirsty after his exertions went to the spring to drink. Before his return the fox had eaten the liver together with the lungs, heart, and kidneys, which are the choicest parts. The lion looked for the heart and liver, and when he did not find them asked the fox where they were. The fox replied, “If he had possessed a heart and liver, how should he have come back to thee after receiving such a stern lesson on that day and (only) saving his life by means of a thousand devices?” “If we had hearkened or considered with understanding we should not have been among the fellows of Hell-fire.”
صید کردن شیر آن خر را و تشنه شدن شیر از کوشش رفت به چشمه تا آب خورد تا باز آمدن شیر جگربند و دل و گرده را روباه خورده بود کی لطیفترست شیر طلب کرد دل و جگر نیافت از روبه پرسید کی کو دل و جگر روبه گفت اگر او را دل و جگر بودی آنچنان سیاستی دیده بود آن روز و به هزار حیله جان برده کی بر تو باز آمدی لوکنا نسمع او نعقل ماکنا فی اصحاب السعیر
The little fox brought the ass into the presence of the lion: the courageous lion tore him to pieces.2870
برد خر را روبهک تا پیش شیر ** پاره‌پاره کردش آن شیر دلیر
The King of the Beasts was made thirsty by his exertions and went to the spring to drink some water.
تشنه شد از کوشش آن سلطان دد ** رفت سوی چشمه تا آبی خورد
Meanwhile the little fox, having got an opportunity, ate his (the ass's) liver, lungs, and heart.
روبهک خورد آن جگربند و دلش ** آن زمان چون فرصتی شد حاصلش
When the lion returned from the spring to eat (his prey), he looked in the ass to find the heart, (but) there was neither heart nor liver.
شیر چون وا گشت از چشمه به خور ** جست در خر دل نه دل بد نه جگر
He said to the fox, “Where is the liver? What has become of the heart?—for no animal can do without these two (organs).”
گفت روبه را جگر کو دل چه شد ** که نباشد جانور را زین دو بد
He (the fox) replied, “If he had possessed a heart or liver, how should he have come here a second time?2875
گفت گر بودی ورا دل یا جگر ** کی بدینجا آمدی بار دگر
He had experienced that tremendous agony and turmoil, the scramble down the mountain, the terror, and the flight;
آن قیامت دیده بود و رستخیز ** وآن ز کوه افتادن و هول و گریز
If he had had a liver or heart, how could he have come a second time into thy presence?”
گر جگر بودی ورا یا دل بدی ** بار دیگر کی بر تو آمدی
When there is no light in the heart, ’tis no heart; when there is no spirit (in the body), ’tis naught but earth.
چون نباشد نور دل دل نیست آن ** چون نباشد روح جز گل نیست آن
The (heart resembling) glass that hath no spiritual light is (like) urine and the urine-phial: do not call it a lamp.
آن زجاجی کو ندارد نور جان ** بول و قاروره‌ست قندیلش مخوان