An account of the knowledge of the hare and an explanation of the excellence and advantages of knowledge.
This topic hath no end. Give heed! Listen to the story of the hare.
Sell your asinine (corporeal) ear and buy another ear, for the asinine ear will not apprehend this discourse.
Go, behold the foxy tricks played by the hare; behold how the hare made a plot to catch the lion.
Knowledge is the seal of the kingdom of Solomon: the whole world is form, and knowledge is the spirit.
Because of this virtue, the creatures of the seas and those of mountain and plain are helpless before man.
Of him the pard and lion are afraid, like the mouse; from him the crocodile of the great river is in pallor and agitation.
From him peri and demon took to the shores (sought refuge): each took abode in some hiding-place.
Man hath many a secret enemy: the cautious man is a wise one.
(There are) hidden creatures, evil and good: at every instant their blows are striking on the heart.
If you go into the river to wash yourself, a thorn in the water inflicts a hurt upon you.
Although the thorn is hidden low in the water, you know it is there, since it is pricking you.
The pricks of (angelic) inspirations and (satanic) temptations are from thousands of beings, not (only) from one.
Wait (patiently) for your (bodily) senses to be transmuted, so that you may see them (the hidden beings), and the difficulty may be solved,
So that (you may see) whose words you have rejected and whom you have made your captain.
