بخش 108 - بردن روبه خر را پیش شیر و جستن خر از شیر و عتاب کردن روباه با شیر کی هنوز خر دور بود تعجیل کردی و عذر گفتن شیر و لابه کردن روبه را شیر کی برو بار دگرش به فریب

When he (the fox) brought him (the ass) up the hill towards the meadow, in order that the lion might pulverise him with a (sudden) charge,

He (the ass) was (still) far from the lion, but the lion would not wait for him to come near before attacking.

The terrible lion made a spring from an eminence, (though) indeed he had not the strength and power to move (effectively).

The ass saw him from afar and turned and fled to the bottom of the hill, dropping his shoes as he ran.

“O king of us (all),” said the fox to the lion, “why didst not thou restrain thyself in the hour of battle,

In order that that misguided (creature) might come near thee and that thou might’st vanquish him with a small attack?

Precipitation and haste is the Devil's wile; patience and calculation is God's grace.

He (the ass) was far off and saw the attack and fled: thy weakness is made manifest and thy prestige is destroyed.”

He (the lion) replied, “I thought my strength was restored: I did not know my feebleness was so great.

Moreover, my hunger and need had passed beyond bounds: through starvation my patience and understanding had been lost.

If by (using) your wits you can reclaim him and bring him back once more,

I shall be much obliged to you: try hard, maybe you will fetch him by cunning.”

“Yes,” said the fox, “if God should give (me) help and set a seal of blindness on his heart

(For) then he will forget the terror which he felt on seeing (thee): this will not be alien to his asininity.

But when I bring him, do not thou rush (at him), lest thou lose him again by overhaste.”

“Yes,” replied the lion; “I have found by experience that I am very ill and that my body has become shaky.

Until the ass comes quite near to me, I will not move, I will (apparently) be sound asleep.”

(Thereupon) the fox departed, saying, “O king, (offer) a prayer that a (great) heedlessness may muffle his reason.

The ass has made vows of repentance to the Creator (and resolved) that he will not be duped by any ne’er- do-well.

We by cunning will cause his vows to collapse, (for) we are the enemy of reason and of the splendid covenant (with God).

The ass's head is a ball for our children: his thought is a plaything for our guile.”

The reason that belongs to (is affected by) the revolution of Saturn hath no position (of honour) in the sight of Universal Reason.

It is made knowing by Mercury and Saturn; we (organs of Universal Reason) by the bounty of the gracious Creator.

The twisted script of our sign-manual is He taught Man: our aims are (expressed in the words) the knowledge is with God.

We are (the object of) the nurture of that resplendent Sun: on that account we are crying, “(Glory to) my Lord the Supreme!”

(The fox said), “If he (the ass) possesses experience, nevertheless a hundred experiences will be shattered by this deceitful palaver (of mine).

Maybe that weak-natured one will break his (vow of) repentance, and the bad luck of his breaking it will overtake him.”