Any one who, like the bee, has been given (Divine) inspiration as a prize, how should not his house be full of honey?
هرکه چون زنبور وحیستش نفل ** چون نباشد خانهی او پر عسل
The cow grazes in the light of the pearl; (then) suddenly it moves some distance away from the pearl.
میچرد در نور گوهر آن بقر ** ناگهان گردد ز گوهر دورتر
A trader (appears and) puts black loam on the pearl, so that the meadow and verdant ground becomes dark.
تاجری بر در نهد لجم سیاه ** تا شود تاریک مرج و سبزهگاه
Then the trader takes refuge on a tree, while the cow seeks the man with its hard horn.
پس گریزد مرد تاجر بر درخت ** گاوجویان مرد را با شاخ سخت
Twenty times the cow runs about the meadow, in order to impale its enemy on its horn.2930
بیست بار آن گاو تازد گرد مرج ** تا کند آن خصم را در شاخ درج
When the fierce cow despairs of (finding) him, it comes to the place where the pearl was laid
چون ازو نومید گردد گاو نر ** آید آنجا که نهاده بد گهر
And sees the loam (spread) over the royal pearl; then it runs away from the clay, like Iblís.
لجم بیند فوق در شاهوار ** پس ز طین بگریزد او ابلیسوار
(Since) Iblís is blind and deaf to the gist (spiritual content) of the clay (of Adam), how should the cow know that the pearl is in the clay?
کان بلیس از متن طین کور و کرست ** گاو کی داند که در گل گوهرست
(The Divine command) fall ye cast the spirit into abasement: this menstruation excluded it from prayer (communion with God).
اهبطوا افکند جان را در حضیض ** از نمازش کرد محروم این محیض
O comrades, beware of this resting-place and of that (idle) talk: verily, sensuality is the menstruation of men.2935
ای رفیقان زین مقیل و زان مقال ** اتقوا ان الهوی حیض الرجال
(The Divine command) fall ye cast the spirit into the body, that the pearl of Aden might be hidden in clay.
اهبطوا افکند جان را در بدن ** تا به گل پنهان بود در عدن
The trader knows it, but the cow does not: the spiritual know, but not any clay-digger.
تاجرش داند ولیکن گاو نی ** اهل دل دانند و هر گلکاو نی
Every piece of clay in the heart of which there is a pearl—its pearl can tell the secrets of another (piece of) clay;
هر گلی که اندر دل او گوهریست ** گوهرش غماز طین دیگریست
While the clay that has not been illumined by God's sprinkling (of light) cannot bear the companionship of the pieces of clay that are filled with pearls.
وان گلی کز رش حق نوری نیافت ** صحبت گلهای پر در بر نتافت
This topic is endless, (and meanwhile) our mouse on the bank of the river is (waiting) on our ear (attention).2940
این سخن پایان ندارد موش ما ** هست بر لبهای جو بر گوش ما
Return to the Story of the mouse seeking the frog on the river-bank and pulling the string in order that the frog in the water might become aware of his seeking him.
رجوع کردن به قصهی طلب کردن آن موش آن چغز را لبلب جو و کشیدن سر رشته تا چغز را در آب خبر شود از طلب او
That (creature) moulded of love is pulling the string in hope of being united with the righteous frog.
آن سرشتهی عشق رشته میکشد ** بر امید وصل چغز با رشد
He is perpetually harping on the heart-string, saying, “I have got the end of the string in my paw.
میتند بر رشتهی دل دم به دم ** که سر رشته به دست آوردهام
My heart and soul have become as (frail as) a thread in contemplation, ever since the end of the string (the prospect of success) showed itself to me.”
همچو تاری شد دل و جان در شهود ** تا سر رشته به من رویی نمود
But suddenly the raven of separation came to chase the mouse and carried it off from that spot.
خود غراب البین آمد ناگهان ** بر شکار موش و بردش زان مکان
When the mouse was taken up into the air by the raven, the frog too was dragged from the bottom of the water.2945
چون بر آمد بر هوا موش از غراب ** منسحب شد چغز نیز از قعر آب
The mouse (was) in the raven's beak, and the frog likewise (was) suspended in the air, (with) its foot (entangled) in the string.
موش در منقار زاغ و چغز هم ** در هوا آویخته پا در رتم
The people were saying, “How could the raven make the water-frog its prey by craft and cunning?
خلق میگفتند زاغ از مکر و کید ** چغز آبی را چگونه کرد صید
How could it go into the water, and how could it carry him off? When was the water-frog (ever) the raven's prey?”
چون شد اندر آب و چونش در ربود ** چغز آبی کی شکار زاغ بود
“This,” said the frog, “is the fit punishment for that one who, like persons devoid of honour, consorts with a rascal.”
چغز گفتا این سزای آن کسی ** کو چو بیآبان شود جفت خسی
Oh, alas, alas for the sorrow caused by a base friend! O sirs, seek ye a good companion.2950
ای فغان از یار ناجنس ای فغان ** همنشین نیک جویید ای مهان