Like a fish wriggling in the death-agony from (being kept on) dry ground, (or like) dung and musk tortured (by being kept) in the same box.
مضطرب در نزع چون ماهی ز خشک ** در یکی حقه معذب پشک و مشک
One donkey would say to his neighbour, “Ha! this wild fellow has the nature of kings and princes. Hush!”910
یک خرش گفتی که ها این بوالوحوش ** طبع شاهان دارد و میران خموش
And the other would mock, saying, “By (constant) ebb and flow he has gained a pearl: how should he sell cheaply?”
وآن دگر تسخر زدی کز جر و مد ** گوهر آوردست کی ارزان دهد
And another donkey would say, “With this fastidiousness (of his), let him recline on the imperial throne!”
وآن خری گفتی که با این نازکی ** بر سریر شاه شو گو متکی
A certain donkey became ill with indigestion and was unable to eat; therefore he gave the gazelle a formal invitation (to dine).
آن خری شد تخمه وز خوردن بماند ** پس برسم دعوت آهو را بخواند
He (the gazelle) shook his head, (as though to say), “Nay, begone, O such-and such: I have no appetite, I am unwell.”
سر چنین کرد او که نه رو ای فلان ** اشتهاام نیست هستم ناتوان
He (the donkey) replied, “I know that you are showing disdain, or holding aloof in regard for your reputation.”915
گفت میدانم که نازی میکنی ** یا ز ناموس احترازی میکنی
He (the gazelle) said to himself, “That (which you offer me) is your food, whereby your limbs are revived and renewed.
گفت او با خود که آن طعمهی توست ** که از آن اجزای تو زنده و نوست
I have been familiar with a (beauteous) pasture, I have reposed amongst (rivulets of) clear water and meadows.
من الیف مرغزاری بودهام ** در زلال و روضهها آسودهام
If Destiny has cast me into torment, (yet) how should that goodly disposition and nature depart (from me)?
گر قضا انداخت ما را در عذاب ** کی رود آن خو و طبع مستطاب
If I have become a beggar, (yet) how should I have the face (impudence and greed) of a beggar? And if my (bodily) raiment become old, (yet) I am (spiritually) new.
گر گدا گشتم گدارو کی شوم ** ور لباسم کهنه گردد من نوم
I have eaten hyacinth and anemone and sweet basil too with a thousand disdains and disgusts.”920
سنبل و لاله و سپرغم نیز هم ** با هزاران ناز و نفرت خوردهام
He (the donkey) said, “Yes; boast and boast and boast away! In a strange country one can utter many an idle brag.”
He (the gazelle) replied, “Truly my navel (musk-gland) bears (me) witness: it confers a (great) favour (even) on aloes-wood and ambergris.
گفت نافم خود گواهی میدهد ** منتی بر عود و عنبر مینهد
But who will hearken to (perceive) that? (Only) he that hath the (spiritual) sense of smell. ’Tis taboo for the donkey addicted to dung.
لیک آن را کی شنود صاحبمشام ** بر خر سرگینپرست آن شد حرام
The donkey smells donkey's urine on the road: how should I offer musk to (creatures of) this class?”
خر کمیز خر ببوید بر طریق ** مشک چون عرضه کنم با این فریق
Hence the Prophet, (who was always) responsive (to the Divine command), spake, the parable, “Islam is a stranger in this world,”925
بهر این گفت آن نبی مستجیب ** رمز الاسلام فیالدنیا غریب
Because even his (the true Moslem's) kinsfolk are fleeing from him, though the angels are in harmony with his essence.
زانک خویشانش هم از وی میرمند ** گرچه با ذاتش ملایک همدمند
The people deem his (outward) form homogeneous (with theirs), but they do not perceive in him that (spiritual) fragrance.
صورتش را جنس میبینند انام ** لیک از وی مینیابند آن مشام
(He is) like a lion in the shape of a cow: behold him from afar but do not investigate him!
همچو شیری در میان نقش گاو ** دور میبینش ولی او را مکاو
And if you investigate, take leave of the cow, (which is) the body; for that lion natured one will tear the cow to pieces.
ور بکاوی ترک گاو تن بگو ** که بدرد گاو را آن شیرخو
He will expel the bovine nature from your head, he will uproot animality from the animal (soul).930
طبع گاوی از سرت بیرون کند ** خوی حیوانی ز حیوان بر کند
(If) you are a cow, you will become a lion (when) near him; (but) if you are glad to be a cow, do not seek to be a lion.
گاو باشی شیر گردی نزد او ** گر تو با گاوی خوشی شیری مجو
Commentary on “Verily I saw seven fat kine which seven lean kine devoured.” God had created those lean kine with the qualities of hungry lions, to the end that they might devour the seven fat ones with avidity. Although (only) the forms of those kine were shown as phantoms in the mirror of dream, do thou regard the reality!
تفسیر انی اری سبع بقرات سمان یاکلهن سبع عجاف آن گاوان لاغر را خدا به صفت شیران گرسنه آفریده بود تا آن هفت گاو فربه را به اشتها میخوردند اگر چه آن خیالات صور گاوان در آینهی خواب نمودند تو معنی بگیر
The Lord of Egypt saw in dream, when the door of his inward eye was opened,
آن عزیز مصر میدیدی به خواب ** چونک چشم غیب را شد فتح باب
Seven fat kine, exceedingly well-nourished: the seven lean kine devoured them.