مطربانشان از درون دف می‌زنند ** بحرها در شورشان کف می‌زنند

From within them musicians strike the tambourine; at their ecstasy the seas burst into foam.

تو نبینی لیک بهر گوششان ** برگها بر شاخها هم کف‌زنان

You see it not, but for their ears the leaves too on the boughs are clapping hands.

تو نبینی برگها را کف زدن ** گوش دل باید نه این گوش بدن 100

You do not see the clapping of the leaves: one must have the spiritual ear, not this ear of the body.

گوش سر بر بند از هزل و دروغ ** تا ببینی شهر جان با فروغ

Close the ear of the head to jesting and lying, that you may see the resplendent city of the soul.

سر کشد گوش محمد در سخن ** کش بگوید در نبی حق هو اذن

The ear of Mohammed draws out the hidden meaning in the words (of the religious hypocrites), for God saith of him in the Qur’án, “He is an ear.”

سر به سر گوشست و چشم است این نبی ** تازه زو ما مرضعست او ما صبی

This Prophet is entirely ear and eye; we are refreshed by him: he is (as) the suckler and we (as) the (infant) boy.

این سخن پایان ندارد باز ران ** سوی اهل پیل و بر آغاز ران

This discourse hath no end. Go back to those who had to do with the elephant, and start at the beginning.

بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی متعرضان پیل‌بچگان

The remainder of the Story of those who molested the young elephants.

هر دهان را پیل بویی می‌کند ** گرد معده‌ی هر بشر بر می‌تند 105

“The elephant takes a sniff at every mouth and keeps poking round the belly of every man,

تا کجا یابد کباب پور خویش ** تا نماید انتقام و زور خویش

To see where she will find the roasted flesh of her young, so that she may manifest her vengeance and strength.”

گوشتهای بندگان حق خوری ** غیبت ایشان کنی کیفر بری

You eat the flesh of God's servants: you backbite them, you will suffer retribution.