Woe to the unfledged bird that flies up to the zenith and falls into peril!”
وای آن مرغی که ناروییده پر ** بر پرد بر اوج و افتد در خطر
Intelligence is wings and feathers to a man: when he lacks intelligence, (he must rely on) the intelligence of a guide.4075
عقل باشد مرد را بال و پری ** چون ندارد عقل عقل رهبری
Either be victorious or in search of a victor: either have insight or be in search of one endowed with insight.
یا مظفر یا مظفرجوی باش ** یا نظرور یا نظرورجوی باش
Without (possession of) the key, namely, intelligence, this knocking at the door is prompted by self-will, not by right motives.
بی ز مفتاح خرد این قرع باب ** از هوا باشد نه از روی صواب
See a whole world ensnared by self-will and by wounds (harmful things) that look like remedies (beneficial things).
عالمی در دام می‌بین از هوا ** وز جراحت‌های هم‌رنگ دوا
The snake, (terrible) as death, stands (raises itself) on its breast, with a big leaf in its mouth in order to catch its prey.
مار استادست بر سینه چو مرگ ** در دهانش بهر صید اشگرف برگ
It stands erect, like a herb, amidst the herbage, (so that) the bird thinks it is the stalk of a plant.4080
در حشایش چون حشیشی او بپاست ** مرغ پندارد که او شاخ گیاست
When it (the bird) settles on the leaf for the purpose of eating, it falls into the mouth of the snake and (into the jaws of) death.
چون نشیند بهر خور بر روی برگ ** در فتد اندر دهان مار و مرگ
A crocodile opens its mouth: its teeth are surrounded by long worms.
کرده تمساحی دهان خویش باز ** گرد دندانهاش کرمان دراز
The worms were produced by the residue of food left in its teeth; and it gave them lodging there.
از بقیه‌ی خور که در دندانش ماند ** کرم‌ها رویید و بر دندان نشاند
The little birds see the worms and the food and imagine that coffin to be a meadow.
مرغکان بینند کرم و قوت را ** مرج پندارند آن تابوت را
When its mouth is filled with birds, it suddenly swallows them and closes its mouth (again).4085
چون دهان پر شد ز مرغ او ناگهان ** در کشدشان و فرو بندد دهان
Know that this world full of dessert (viands) and bread is like the open mouth of the crocodile.
این جهان پر ز نقل و پر ز نان ** چون دهان باز آن تمساح دان
O thou who scrapest together the means of livelihood, (in thy desire) for worms and morsels do not feel secure from the artfulness of the crocodile, (which is) Time.
بهر کرم و طعمه ای روزی‌تراش ** از فن تمساح دهر آمن مباش
A fox falls (and lies) flat under his earth: above his earth are deceptive grains,
روبه افتد پهن اندر زیر خاک ** بر سر خاکش حبوب مکرناک
In order that the heedless crow may approach them and the crafty one cunningly seize her by the leg.
تا بیاید زاغ غافل سوی آن ** پای او گیرد به مکر آن مکردان
Since there are a hundred thousand cunning tricks in animals, how (great) must be the cunning of Man who is superior (to all other animals)!4090
صدهزاران مکر در حیوان چو هست ** چون بود مکر بشر کو مهترست
In his hand (he carries) a copy of the Holy Book as (though he were) Zaynu ’l- ‘Ábidín; (but) in his sleeve a vengeful dagger.
مصحفی در کف چو زین‌العابدین ** خنجری پر قهر اندر آستین
He addresses thee smilingly—“O my lord,” (while) in his heart there is a Babylon of sorcery and guileful spells.
گویدت خندان کای مولای من ** در دل او بابلی پر سحر و فن
(He is) deadly poison, (though) in appearance he is honey and milk. Beware, do not go (on thy way) save in company with a wise (spiritual) preceptor.