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4
2239-2288

  • It suffered many afflictions, and in the end it went after all towards safety and welfare.
  • It cast itself into the deep Sea whose bound no eye can reach. 2240
  • So when the fishermen brought their net (to the lake), the half-intelligent (fish) was bitterly grieved thereat.
  • And said, “Alas, I have lost the opportunity: how did not I accompany that guide?
  • He went off suddenly, but seeing that he went I ought to have gone after him in hot haste.”
  • ‘Tis wrong to regret the past: what is gone will not come back: to remember it is of no avail.
  • Story of the captive bird which gave the (following) injunctions: do not feel sorrow for what is past, think about taking precaution for the present (need), and do not spend time in repenting.
  • A certain man caught a bird by guile and trap: the bird said to him, “O noble sire, 2245
  • Thou hast eaten many oxen and sheep, thou hast sacrificed many camels;
  • Thou hast never in the world been sated by them, neither wilt thou be sated by my limbs.
  • Let me go, that I may bestow on thee three counsels, that thou mayst perceive whether I am wise or foolish.
  • (I will give thee) the first of those counsels on thy hand, the second of them on thy plastered roof,
  • And the third counsel I will give thee on a tree. (Let me go), for thou wilt become fortunate through these three counsels. 2250
  • (As for) that saying which is (to be said) on thy hand, ’tis this: ‘do not believe an absurdity (when thou hearest it) from any one.’”
  • When it (the bird) had uttered the first grave counsel on his palm, it became free and went (to perch) on the wall (of his house),
  • And said, “The second is, ‘do not grieve over (what is) past: when it has passed from thee, do not feel regret for it.’”
  • After that, it said to him, “In my body is concealed a solitary (large and precious) pearl, ten dirhems in weight.
  • By thy soul's truth (as sure as thou livest), that jewel was thy fortune and the luck of thy children. 2255
  • Thou hast missed the pearl, for it was not thy appointed lot (to gain it)—a pearl the like of which is not in existence.”
  • Even as a woman big with child keeps wailing at the time of parturition, so the Khwája began to cry out clamorously.
  • The bird said to him, “Did not I admonish thee, saying, ‘Let there be no grief in thee for what passed yesterday’?
  • Since it is past and gone, why art thou grieving? Either thou didst not understand my counsel or thou art deaf.
  • And (as regards) the second counsel I gave thee, (namely), ‘Do not from misguidedness put any belief in an absurd statement,’ 2260
  • O lion, I myself do not weigh ten dirhems: how should the weight of ten dirhems be within me?”
  • The Khwája came back to himself (recovered his wits) and said, “Hark, disclose the third (piece of) excellent counsel.”
  • “Yes,” said the bird, “thou hast made good use of those (former counsels), that I should tell (thee) the third counsel in vain!”
  • To give counsel to a sleepy ignoramus is to scatter seed in nitrous soil.
  • The rent of folly and ignorance does not admit of being patched up: do not give the seed of wisdom to him (the fool), O counsellor. 2265
  • How the half-intelligent fish devised a means (of escape) and feigned to be dead.
  • The second fish said in the hour of tribulation, when he was left sundered from the shadow (protection) of the intelligent one,
  • “He hath gone towards the sea and is freed from sorrow: such a good comrade hath been lost to me!
  • But I will not think of that and will attend to myself: at this (present) time I will feign to be dead.
  • Then I will turn my belly upwards and my back downwards and will move on the water.
  • I will move upon it as weeds move, not by swimming as a person (swimmer) does. 2270
  • I will become dead, I will commit myself to the water: to die before death is to be safe from torment.”
  • To die before death is to be safe, O youth: even so hath Mustafa (Mohammad) commanded us.
  • He said, “Die, all of you, ere death come, else ye will die with (the certainty of suffering) sore afflictions (hereafter).”
  • He (the fish) died in that manner and threw his belly upwards: the water was carrying him, now alow, now aloft.
  • Every one of those pursuers (the fishermen) bore great vexation (in his heart), saying, “Alas, the best fish is dead.” 2275
  • He (the fish) was made glad by their saying “Alas”: (he said to himself), “This trick of mine has come off, I am delivered from the sword.”
  • Then a worthy fisherman seized him and spat on him and flung him on the ground.
  • He (the half-intelligent fish), rolling over and over, went secretly into the water; the (entirely) foolish one remained (where he was), moving to and fro in agitation.
  • That simpleton kept leaping about, right and left, in order that he might save his skin by his own efforts.
  • They cast the net, and he (at last) remained in the net: foolish ness ensconced him in that fire (of perdition). 2280
  • On the top of the fire, on the surface of a frying-pan, he be came the bedfellow of Folly.
  • (There) he was seething from the heat of the flames Reason was saving to him, “Did not a warner come to thee?”
  • He, from the rack of torture and tribulation, was replying like the souls of the unbelievers: they said, “Yea.”
  • Then again he was saying, “If this time I escape from this neck-breaking affliction,
  • I will not make my home except in a sea: I will not make a lake my dwelling-place. 2285
  • I will seek the boundless sea and become safe: I will go in safety and welfare for ever.”
  • Explaining that the promise made by the fool at the moment of seizure (punishment) and contrition is faithless, for though they should be sent back, they would surely return to that which they were forbidden to do, and verily they are liars. The false dawn keeps not faith.
  • Reason was saying to him, “Folly is with thee: with Folly (as thy companion), the promise will be broken.
  • The keeping of promises appertains to reason: thou hast not reason: begone, O thou whose value is that of an ass!