موشکی در کف مهار اشتری ** در ربود و شد روان او از مری
A little mouse caught in his forelegs a camel's leading-rope and from emulation went off (with it).
اشتر از چستی که با او شد روان ** موش غره شد که هستم پهلوان
By reason of the readiness with which the camel set out along with him, the mouse was duped into thinking himself a hero.
بر شتر زد پرتو اندیشهاش ** گفت بنمایم ترا تو باش خوش
The ray of his thought struck the camel. He (the camel) said (aside), “I will show thee (presently)! Enjoy thyself!”
تا بیامد بر لب جوی بزرگ ** کاندر او گشتی زبون پیل سترگ
(All went well) till he (the mouse) came to the bank of a great river, at which any lion or wolf would have lost heart.
موش آن جا ایستاد و خشک گشت ** گفت اشتر ای رفیق کوه و دشت3440
There the mouse stopped and became paralysed. The camel said, “O my companion o’er hill and plain,
این توقف چیست حیرانی چرا ** پا بنه مردانه اندر جو در آ
What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!
تو قلاووزی و پیش آهنگ من ** در میان ره مباش و تن مزن
Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”
گفت این آب شگرف است و عمیق ** من همیترسم ز غرقاب ای رفیق
He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”
گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش3445
“The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”
گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا3450
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.
تو رعیت باش چون سلطان نهای ** خود مران چون مرد کشتیبان نهای
Be a vassal since you are not a lord: do not steer (the boat) yourself, since you are not the boatman.
چون نهای کامل دکان تنها مگیر ** دستخوش میباش تا گردی خمیر3455
Since you are not (spiritually) perfect, do not take a shop (by yourself) alone. Be pliant to the hand, in order that you may become leavened (like dough).
أنصتوا را گوش کن خاموش باش ** چون زبان حق نگشتی گوش باش
Give ear to (the Divine command), “Keep silence,” be mute; since you have not become the tongue (mouthpiece) of God, be an ear.
ور بگویی شکل استفسار گو ** با شهنشاهان تو مسکینوار گو
And if you speak, speak in the form of a request for explanation: speak to the (spiritual) emperors as a lowly beggar.
ابتدای کبر و کین از شهوت است ** راسخی شهوتت از عادت است
The beginning of pride and hatred is in (worldly) lust, and the rootedness of your lust is from habit.
چون ز عادت گشت محکم خوی بد ** خشم آید بر کسی کت واکشد
When an evil disposition becomes confirmed by habit, you are enraged with any one who restrains you.
چون که تو گل خوار گشتی هر که او ** واکشد از گل ترا باشد عدو3460
After you have become an eater of clay, any one who restrains you from (eating) clay is your enemy.