How the lion answered the hare and set off with him.
“Come on in God's name,” said he, “let me see where he is! Go thou in front, if thou art speaking truth,
That I may give him and a hundred like him the punishment they deserve, or if this is a lie, that I may give thy deserts to thee.”
The hare set out on the way, (going) in front like a guide, that he might lead him towards his snare,
Towards the well which he had designated: he had made the deep well a snare for his (the lion's) life.
(Thus) were these twain going till (they arrived) near the well. Look, you, (this was) a hare (deceitful) as a (pool of) water (hidden) under straw.
The water bears a blade of straw (down) to the plain: how, I wonder, will the straw bear away a mountain?
The snare of his (the hare's) guile was a noose for the lion: a marvellous hare (he), who was carrying off a lion (as his prey)!
A Moses draws Pharaoh, with his army and mighty host, into the river Nile;
A single gnat with half a wing cleaves intrepidly the suture of Nimrod's skull.
Behold the state of him who hearkened to the words of his enemy, and the retribution of him who became the friend of the envious one—
The state of a Pharaoh who hearkened to Haman, and the state of a Nimrod who hearkened to Satan.
Albeit the enemy speak to thee in friendly wise, know (his words to be) the snare, though he speak to thee of the grain (bait).
If he give thee some candy, regard it as poison; if he do a kindness to thy body, regard it as cruelty.
When the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, you see naught but the skin (outward appearance): you do not distinguish enemies from friends.
Since the case is thus, begin humble supplication; set about lamenting and glorifying (God) and fasting.
Lament continually, crying, “O Thou who well knowest the hidden things, do not crush us beneath the stone of evil contrivance.
O Creator of the lion, if we have wrought currishness, do not set the lion (to spring) on us from this covert.
Do not give to sweet water the form of fire, do not put upon fire the form of water.
When Thou makest (us) drunken with the wine of Thy wrath, Thou givest to things non-existent the form of existence.”
What is (this) drunkenness? That which binds (prevents) the eye from (true) eyesight, so that a (common) stone appears a jewel, and wool (pashm) a jasper (yashm).
What is (this) drunkenness? The perversion of the senses, the change of tamarisk-wood into sandal-wood in the (perverted) sight.
