سوی قصه گفتنش می‌‌داشت گوش ** سوی نبض و جستنش می‌‌داشت هوش160
He listened to her story (while) he continued to observe her pulse and its beating,
تا که نبض از نام کی گردد جهان ** او بود مقصود جانش در جهان‌‌ا ن
So that at whosoever's name her pulse should begin to throb, (he might know that) that person is the object of her soul's desire in the world.
دوستان شهر او را بر شمرد ** بعد از آن شهری دگر را نام برد
He reckoned up the friends and town; then he mentioned another town by name.
گفت چون بیرون شدی از شهر خویش ** در کدامین شهر بوده ستی تو بیش
He said: “When you went forth from your own town, in which town did you live mostly?”
نام شهری گفت وز آن هم در گذشت ** رنگ روی و نبض او دیگر نگشت
She mentioned the name of a certain town and from that too she passed on (to speak of another, and meanwhile) there was no change in the colour of her face or in her pulse.
خواجگان و شهرها را یک به یک ** باز گفت از جای و از نان و نمک165
Masters and towns, one by one, she told of, and about dwelling-place and bread and salt.
شهر شهر و خانه خانه قصه کرد ** نی رگش جنبید و نی رخ گشت زرد
She told stories of many a town and many a house, (and still) no vein of her quivered nor did her cheek grow pale.
نبض او بر حال خود بد بی‌‌گزند ** تا بپرسید از سمرقند چو قند
Her pulse remained in its normal state, unimpaired, till he asked about Samarcand, the (city) sweet as candy.
نبض جست و روی سرخ و زرد شد ** کز سمرقندی زرگر فرد شد
(Thereat) her pulse jumped and her face went red and pale (by turns), for she had been parted from a man of Samarcand, a goldsmith.
چون ز رنجور آن حکیم این راز یافت ** اصل آن درد و بلا را باز یافت
When the physician found out this secret from the sick (girl), he discerned the source of that grief and woe.
گفت کوی او کدام است در گذر ** او سر پل گفت و کوی غاتفر170
He said: “Which is his quarter in passing (through the town)?” “Sar-i Pul (Bridgehead),” she replied, “and Ghátafar street.”
گفت دانستم که رنجت چیست زود ** در خلاصت سحرها خواهم نمود
Said he: “I know what your illness is and I will at once display the arts of magic in delivering you.
شاد باش و فارغ و ایمن که من ** آن کنم با تو که باران با چمن
Be glad and care-free and have no fear, for I will do to you that which rain does to the meadow.
من غم تو می‌‌خورم تو غم مخور ** بر تو من مشفق‌‌ترم از صد پدر
I will be anxious for you, be not you anxious: I am kinder to you than a hundred fathers.
هان و هان این راز را با کس مگو ** گر چه از تو شه کند بس جستجو
Beware! tell not this secret to any one, not though the king should make much inquiry from you.
چون که اسرارت نهان در دل شود ** آن مرادت زودتر حاصل شود175
When your heart becomes the grave of your secret, that desire of yours will be gained more quickly.”
گفت پیغمبر که هر که سر نهفت ** زود گردد با مراد خویش جفت
The Prophet said that any one who hides his inmost thought will soon attain to the object of his desire.
دانه چون اندر زمین پنهان شود ** سر آن سر سبزی بستان شود
When the seed is hidden in the earth, its inward secret becomes the verdure of the garden.
زر و نقره گر نبودندی نهان ** پرورش کی یافتندی زیر کان
If gold and silver were not hidden, how would they get nourishment (grow and ripen) in the mine?
وعده‌‌ها و لطفهای آن حکیم ** کرد آن رنجور را ایمن ز بیم
The promises and soothing words of the physician made the sick (girl) safe (free) from fear.
وعده‌‌ها باشد حقیقی دل پذیر ** وعده‌‌ها باشد مجازی تاسه‌‌گیر180
There are true promises, grateful to the heart; there are false promises, fraught with disquietude.
وعده‌‌ی اهل کرم گنج روان ** وعده‌‌ی نااهل شد رنج روان
The promise of the noble is a flowing (bountiful) treasure; the promise of the unworthy becomes anguish of soul.
دریافتن آن ولی رنج را و عرض کردن رنج او را پیش پادشاه
How the saint, having discovered the (cause of) the illness, laid it before the king.
بعد از آن برخاست و عزم شاه کرد ** شاه را ز ان شمه‌‌ای آگاه کرد
Then he arose and went to see the king and acquainted him with a portion of that matter.
گفت تدبیر آن بود کان مرد را ** حاضر آریم از پی این درد را
“The (best) plan,” said he, “is that we should bring the man here for the sake of (curing) this malady.
مرد زرگر را بخوان ز ان شهر دور ** با زر و خلعت بده او را غرور
Summon the goldsmith from that far country; beguile him with gold and robes of honour.”
فرستادن پادشاه رسولان به سمرقند به آوردن زرگر
How the king sent messengers to Samarcand to fetch the goldsmith.