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
The light in the lamp is the gift of the Almighty; the glass and earthenware (vessels) are His creatures' handiwork.2880
نور مصباحست داد ذوالجلال ** صنعت خلقست آن شیشه و سفال
Necessarily in respect of the vessels there is number, (but) in respect of the flames (of light) there is naught but unity.
لاجرم در ظرف باشد اعتداد ** در لهبها نبود الا اتحاد
When the light of six lamps is mingled together, there is no number and plurality in their light.
نور شش قندیل چون آمیختند ** نیست اندر نورشان اعداد و چند
The Jew has become a polytheist from (regarding) the vessels; the true believer regarded the light and (consequently) has become endowed with (spiritual) perception.
آن جهود از ظرفها مشرک شده‌ست ** نور دید آن مومن و مدرک شده‌ست
When the sight falls upon the spirit's vessel, it regards Seth and Noah as being two.
چون نظر بر ظرف افتد روح را ** پس دو بیند شیث را و نوح را
When there is water in it (the canal), (only then) is it (really) a canal: the (real) man is he that hath the spirit (within him).2885
جو که آبش هست جو خود آن بود ** آدمی آنست کو را جان بود
These (others) are not men, they are (mere) forms: they are dead with (desire for) bread and killed by appetite.
این نه مردانند اینها صورتند ** مرده‌ی نانند و کشته‌ی شهوتند
Story of the Christian ascetic who went about with a lamp in the daytime in the midst of the bazaar because of the ecstasy which he had (in his heart).
حکایت آن راهب که روز با چراغ می‌گشت در میان بازار از سر حالتی کی او را بود
That person was going about in a bazaar in the daytime with a candle, his heart full of love and (spiritual) ardour.
آن یکی با شمع برمی‌گشت روز ** گرد بازاری دلش پر عشق و سوز
A busybody said to him, “Hey, O such-and-such, what are you seeking beside every shop?
بوالفضولی گفت او را کای فلان ** هین چه می‌جویی به سوی هر دکان
Hey, why are you going about in search (of something) with a lamp in bright daylight? What is the joke?”
هین چه می‌گردی تو جویان با چراغ ** در میان روز روشن چیست لاغ
He replied, “I am searching everywhere for a man that is alive with the life inspired by that (Divine) Breath.2890
گفت می‌جویم به هر سو آدمی ** که بود حی از حیات آن دمی
Is there a man in existence?” “This bazaar,” said the other, “is full: surely they are men, O noble sage.”
هست مردی گفت این بازار پر ** مردمانند آخر ای دانای حر
He answered, “I want (one who is) a man on the two-wayed road—in the way of anger and at the time of desire.
گفت خواهم مرد بر جاده‌ی دو ره ** در ره خشم و به هنگام شره
Where is (one who is) a man at the moment of anger and at the moment of appetite? In search of (such) a man I am running from street to street.
وقت خشم و وقت شهوت مرد کو ** طالب مردی دوانم کو به کو
Where in the world is (one who is) a man on these two occasions, that I may devote my life to him to-day?”
کو درین دو حال مردی در جهان ** تا فدای او کنم امروز جان