بخش 111 - جواب گفتن خر روباه را

“Hark,” cried the ass, “begone, begone from my presence, O enemy, that I may not see your face, O ugly one!

That God who made you ill-fated hath made your ugly face detestable and impudent.

With what face do you come to me? The rhinoceros has not such a hard skin (as you have).

You manifestly attempted to shed my life-blood, saying, ‘I will guide you to the meadow,’

So that I beheld the face of Azrael; (now) again you have brought cunning and plausible suggestion (to bear on me).

Though I am a disgrace to the asses or an ass (myself), (yet) I am possessed of life, I have a vital spirit: how should I purchase (accept and believe) this (palaver)?

If a child had seen the pitiless horror that I saw, it would instantly have become old.

Deprived of heart and soul by dread of that awful object, I threw myself headlong from the mountain.

My legs were tied (paralysed) by terror as soon as I perceived that (cruel) torment without (any) barrier (between it and me).

I made a promise to God, crying, ‘O gracious One, do Thou loose my legs from this bondage,

So that henceforth I may not listen to any one's temptation: I promise, I vow (that I will not listen), O Helper!’

Thereupon God loosed my legs because of my prayer and humble entreaty and indication (of abasement);

Else the fierce lion would have overtaken me: how would an ass have fared in the grip of a lion?

Now the lion of the jungle has sent you to me again for the purpose of deceit, O evil companion that you are!”

(I swear) by the truth of the Holy Person of Allah, the Lord, that a malign snake is better than a malign friend.

The malign snake takes a soul (life) from the man it has bitten; the malign friend leads him into the everlasting Fire.

Thy heart secretly steals its disposition from the disposition of thy companion, without speech and talk on his part.

When he casts his shadow over thee, that unprincipled one steals away thy principles from thee.

(Even) if thy reason has become (as strong as) a furious dragon, know that the evil companion is an emerald to it.

Through him the eye of thy reason starts out (of the socket): his (vicious) thrusts deliver thee into the hands of pestilence.