Original content

English translation

A peacock and a crow met in the courtyard of a garden and observed each other's faults and merits. The peacock said to the crow: This red boot upon your foot befits my gold-embroidered satin and figured brocade. Surely, at the time when we came from the dark night of nonexistence into the bright day of existence, we made a mistake in donning our boots — I have put on your boot of black shagreen, and you have put on my boot of red leather!

The crow said: The matter is the opposite of this. If any error occurred, it occurred in the other garments; the rest of your robes suit my boot. Most likely, in that drowsiness you thrust your head out of my collar, and I out of yours.

Nearby, a turtle had drawn its head into the collar of contemplation and was listening to that dispute and wrangling. It raised its head and said: O dear friends and discerning companions, abandon this fruitless dispute and desist from this profitless argument. God Most High has not given everything to a single person, nor placed the reins of all desires in the hand of a single person.

There is no one to whom He has not given some special gift that He has not given to others, and in whom He has not placed some particular quality that He has not placed in others. Everyone ought to be content with what they have been given, and pleased with what they have found.

To carry envy of others' state is not the way of wisdom; Beware that you not stray far from the way of wisdom. Greed toward people, like envy, is a source of suffering; Sever greed from people, so that you may not be afflicted.