نه چنان مرغ قفص در اندهان ** گرد بر گردش به حلقه گربگان
Not such is the bird caged amidst anxieties—cats round about it in a ring:
کی بود او را درین خوف و حزن ** آرزوی از قفص بیرون شدن
How, in this dread and sorrow, should it have the desire to go out of the cage?
او همی‌خواهد کزین ناخوش حصص ** صد قفص باشد بگرد این قفص
It wishes that, (to save it) from this unwelcome plucking (of its feathers), there might be a hundred cages round about this cage (in which it is confined).
عشق جالینوس برین حیات دنیا بود کی هنر او همینجا بکار می‌آید هنری نورزیده است کی در آن بازار بکار آید آنجا خود را به عوام یکسان می‌بیند
The love of (a) Galen is for this present life, for only here does his art avail; he has not practised any art that avails in yonder market: there he sees himself to be the same as the vulgar.
آنچنانک گفت جالینوس راد ** از هوای این جهان و از مراد3960
That is even as wise Galen said on account of (his) passion for this world and because of what he desired (in it)—
راضیم کز من بماند نیم جان ** که ز کون استری بینم جهان
“I am content that (only) half of my vital spirit should remain, so that I may see the world through the arse of a mule.”
گربه می‌بیند بگرد خود قطار ** مرغش آیس گشته بودست از مطار
He sees around him cats in troops: his bird has despaired of flying;
یا عدم دیدست غیر این جهان ** در عدم نادیده او حشری نهان
Or he has deemed all except this world to be non-existence and has not perceived in non-existence a hidden resurrection.
چون جنین کش می‌کشد بیرون کرم ** می‌گریزد او سپس سوی شکم
Like the embryo which (the Divine) Bounty is drawing forth: it is fleeing back towards the belly.
لطف رویش سوی مصدر می‌کند ** او مقر در پشت مادر می‌کند3965
(The Divine) Grace is turning its (the embryo's) face towards the place of exit, (while) it (the embryo) is making its abode in the mother's loins,
که اگر بیرون فتم زین شهر و کام ** ای عجب بینم بدیده این مقام
Saying, “Oh, I wonder, if I fall outside of this city and (abode of) pleasure, shall I see with my eye this dwelling-place;