ور بخوردی بیدل و بیاشتها ** این بود پیوندی بیانتها
Or if he ate (of it), (’twould be) without heart and without appetite: this is (the sign of) an affinity without end.
خربزه آورده بودند ارمغان ** گفت رو فرزند لقمان را بخوان
They had brought a melon as a present. “Go, my son” said he, “and call Luqmán.”
چون برید و داد او را یک برین ** همچو شکر خوردش و چون انگبین1515
When he cut it and gave him a slice, he ate it as if it were sugar and honey.
از خوشی که خورد داد او را دوم ** تا رسید آن گرچها تا هفدهم
On account of the pleasure with which he ate (it), he gave him a second (slice), (and went on) till the slices (given him) reached the seventeenth.
ماند گرچی گفت این را من خورم ** تا چه شیرین خربزه ست این بنگرم
One slice remained. He said, “I will eat this (myself), so that I may see what a sweet melon this is.
او چنین خوش میخورد کز ذوق او ** طبعها شد مشتهی و لقمه جو
He (Luqmán) eats it with such pleasure that from his delight (all) natures have become eager and craving the morsel.”
چون بخورد از تلخیش آتش فروخت ** هم زبان کرد آبله هم حلق سوخت
As soon as he (the master) ate it, by its sourness there was kindled fire (which) blistered his tongue and burnt his throat.
ساعتی بیخود شد از تلخی آن ** بعد از آن گفتش که ای جان و جهان1520
He became beside himself for a while on account of its sourness; after that, he said to him, “O (you who are) soul and world,
نوش چون کردی تو چندین زهر را ** لطف چون انگاشتی این قهر را
How did you make all this poison an antidote? How did you deem this cruelty to be kindness?
این چه صبر است این صبوری از چه روست ** یا مگر پیش تو این جانت عدوست
What patience is this? For what reason is this great fortitude? Or, perchance, in your opinion this life of yours is an enemy (which you would fain destroy).