- Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
- بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
- His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart. 135
- در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او
- Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
- از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار
- While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
- و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
- Returning to the Story of the elephant.
- بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
- Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
- گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
- Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
- با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید
- I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity? 140
- من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح
- I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.
- من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم
- Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
- هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
- This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
- این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت