How the hare brought to the beasts of chase the news that the lion had fallen into the well.
When the hare was gladdened by deliverance (from the lion), he began to run towards the beasts until (he came to) the desert.
Having seen the lion miserably slain in the well, he was skipping joyously all the way to the meadow,
Clapping his hands because he had escaped from the hand of Death; fresh and dancing in the air, like bough and leaf.
Bough and leaf were set free from the prison of earth, lifted their heads, and became comrades of the wind;
The leaves, when they had burst (forth from) the bough, made haste to reach the top of the tree;
With the tongue of (seed that put forth) its sprouts each fruit and tree severally is singing thanks to God,
Saying, “The Bounteous Giver nourished our root until the tree grew big and stood upright.”
(Even so) the spirits bound in clay, when they escape glad at heart from their (prisons of) clay,
Begin to dance in the air of Divine Love and become flawless like the full moon's orb,
Their bodies dancing, and their souls—nay, do not ask (how their souls fare); and those things from which comes the soul's delight—nay, do not ask (of those things)!
The hare lodged the lion in prison. Shame on a lion who was discomfited by a hare!
He is in such a disgrace, and still—this is a wonder—he would fain be addressed by the title of Fakhr-i Dín.
O thou lion that liest at the bottom of this lonely well, thy hare-like soul (nafs) has shed and drunk thy blood;
Thy hare-soul is feeding in the desert, (whilst) thou art (lying) at the bottom of this well of “How?” and “Why?”
That lion-catcher (the hare) ran towards the beasts, crying, “Rejoice, O people, since the announcer of joy is come.
Glad news! Glad news, O company of merry-makers! That hell-hound has gone back to Hell.
Glad news! Glad news! The enemy of your lives—his teeth have been torn out by the vengeance of his Creator.
He who smote many heads with his claws—him too the broom of Death has swept away like rubbish.”
