بخش 26 - قصهٔ آن حکیم کی دید طاوسی را کی پر زیبای خود را می‌کند به منقار و می‌انداخت و تن خود را کل و زشت می‌کرد از تعجب پرسید کی دریغت نمی‌آید گفت می‌آید اما پیش من جان از پر عزیزتر است و این پر عدوی جان منست

A peacock was tearing out his feathers in the open country, where a sage had gone for a walk.

He said, “O peacock, how art thou tearing out such fine feathers remorselessly from the root?

How indeed is thy heart consenting that thou shouldst tear off these gorgeous robes and let them fall in the mud?

Those who commit the Qur’án to memory place every feather of thine, on account of its being prized and acceptable, within the folding of the (Holy) Book.

For the sake of stirring the healthful air thy feathers are used as fans.

What ingratitude and what recklessness is this! Dost not thou know who is their decorator?

Or dost thou know (that) and art thou showing disdain and purposely tearing out (such) a (fine) broidery?

Oh, there is many a disdain that becomes a sin and causes the servant to fall from favour with the King (God).

To show disdain is sweeter than sugar; but chew it not, for it hath a hundred perils.

The place of safety is the way of want (lowliness): abandon disdain and make up with (be satisfied with) that way.

Oh, many a disdainfulness flapped its wings and plumes, (but) in the end it became a bane to that (arrogant) person.

If the sweetness of disdain exalts thee for a moment, (yet) its latent fear and dread consumes thee;

(While) this want (lowliness), though it make (thee) lean, will make thy breast (heart) like the brilliant full- moon.

Since He (God) draws forth the living from the dead, he that has become dead (to this world) keeps the right course;

(And) since He brings forth the dead from the living, the living (carnal) soul moves towards a state of death (self-mortification).

Become dead, that the Lord who brings forth the living may bring forth a (spiritually) living one from this dead one.

(If) thou become December (Winter), thou wilt experience the bringing forth of Spring; (if) thou become night, thou wilt experience the advent of day.

Do not tear out thy feathers, for ’tis irreparable: do not rend thy face in grief, O beauteous one.

Such a face that resembles the morning sun—’tis sinful to rend a countenance like that.

’Tis (an act of) infidelity (to inflict) scratches upon a countenance (of) such (beauty) that the moon's countenance wept at parting from it.

Or dost not thou see (the beauty of) thy face? Abandon that contumacious disposition (which prevents thee from seeing it).”