- Every one knows, O pride of the sons (of Adam), that the artifice of the celestial sphere exceeds (that of) the earth.”
- هر کسی دانند ای فخر البنین ** که فزون باشد فن چرخ از زمین
- Story of the camel and the ox and the ram who found a bunch of grass on the road, and each said, “I will eat it.”
- حکایت اشتر و گاو و قج که در راه بند گیاه یافتند هر یکی میگفت من خورم
- Whilst a camel, ox, and ram were going along, they found a bunch of grass in front of (them on) the road.
- اشتر و گاو و قجی در پیش راه ** یافتند اندر روش بندی گیاه
- The ram said, “If we divide this, certainly none of us will get his fill of it;
- گفت قج بخش ار کنیم این را یقین ** هیچ کس از ما نگردد سیر ازین
- But whichever of us has lived longest has the best right to this fodder: let him eat;
- لیک عمر هرکه باشد بیشتر ** این علف اوراست اولی گو بخور
- For (the injunction) to give the foremost place to the seniors has come from Mustafá (Mohammed) among the practices observed by him, 2460
- که اکابر را مقدم داشتن ** آمدست از مصطفی اندر سنن
- Although, at this time when vile men hold sway, the vulgar put forward the elders on two occasions (only),
- گرچه پیران را درین دور لام ** در دو موضع پیش میدارند عام
- Either in (tasting) food that is burning hot, or on a bridge that is (damaged) by cracks (and) in a state of ruin.
- یا در آن لوتی که آن سوزان بود ** یا بر آن پل کز خلل ویران بود
- The vulgar do not pay homage to a venerable Shaykh and leader without some mischievous idea associated (with their homage).
- خدمت شیخی بزرگی قایدی ** عام نارد بیقرینهی فاسدی
- This is their good: what must their evil be? Distinguish their (inward) foulness from their (outward) fairness.”
- خیرشان اینست چه بود شرشان ** قبحشان را باز دان از فرشان
- A king was going to the congregational mosque, and the marshals and mace-bearers were beating the people off. 2465
- سوی جامع میشد آن یک شهریار ** خلق را میزد نقیب و چوبدار
- The wielder of the stick would break the head of one and tear to bits the shirt of another.
- آن یکی را سر شکستی چوبزن ** و آن دگر را بر دریدی پیرهن
- A poor wretch amidst the throng received ten blows with the stick without (having committed) any offence. “Begone,” they cried, “get out of the way!”
- در میانه بیدلی ده چوب خورد ** بیگناهی که برو از راه برد
- Dripping blood, he turned his face to the king and said, “Behold the manifest iniquity: why ask of that which is hidden?
- خون چکان رو کرد با شاه و بگفت ** ظلم ظاهر بین چه پرسی از نهفت
- This is thy good: (thou doest this whilst) thou art going to the mosque; what must thy evil and burden (of sin) be, O misguided one?”
- خیر تو این است جامع میروی ** تا چه باشد شر و وزرت ای غوی
- The Pír (Elder) never hears a salaam from a base fellow without being exceedingly tormented by him in the end. 2470
- یک سلامی نشنود پیر از خسی ** تا نپیچد عاقبت از وی بسی
- (If) a wolf catch a saint, it is better than that the saint should be caught by the wicked carnal soul,
- گرگ دریابد ولی را به بود ** زانک دریابد ولی را نفس بد
- Because, though the wolf does great violence, yet it has not the same knowledge and craft and cunning;
- زانک گرگ ارچه که بس استمگریست ** لیکش آن فرهنگ و کید و مکر نیست
- Else how should it fall into the trap? Cunning is complete (attains to perfection) in man.
- ورنه کی اندر فتادی او به دام ** مکر اندر آدمی باشد تمام
- The ram said to the ox and the camel, “O comrades, since such a (lucky) chance has come to us,
- گفت قج با گاو و اشتر ای رفاق ** چون چنین افتاد ما را اتفاق
- Let each (of us) declare the date (antiquity) of his life: the oldest has the best right, let the others suffer (disappointment) in silence. 2475
- هر یکی تاریخ عمر ابدا کنید ** پیرتر اولیست باقی تن زنید
- In those times,” said the ram, “my pasturage was (shared) with the ram that was sacrificed for Ismá‘íl (Ishmael).”
- گفت قج مرج من اندر آن عهود ** با قج قربان اسمعیل بود
- The ox said, “I am the (most) advanced in years, (I was) coupled with the ox that Adam yoked.
- گاو گفتا بودهام من سالخورد ** جفت آن گاوی کش آدم جفت کرد
- I am the yoke-fellow of the ox with which Adam, the forefather of mankind, used to plough the earth in sowing.”
- جفت آن گاوم که آدم جد خلق ** در زراعت بر زمین میکرد فلق
- When the camel heard the ox and the ram (make these assertions) he was amazed: he lowered his head and picked up that (bunch of grass).
- چون شنید از گاو و قج اشتر شگفت ** سر فرود آورد و آن را برگرفت
- Promptly, without any palaver, the Bactrian camel raised the bunch of fresh barley in the air, 2480
- در هوا بر داشت آن بند قصیل ** اشتر بختی سبک بیقال و قیل