بحر کف پیش آرد و سدی کند ** جر کند و ز بعد جر مدی کند195
The sea casts foam in front (of it) and makes a barrier: it draws back and after drawing back flows in (again).
این زمان بشنو چه مانع شد مگر ** مستمع را رفت دل جای دگر
Hear what has interfered (hindered my exposition) at the present time: methinks the hearer's mind has wandered elsewhere.
خاطرش شد سوی صوفی قنق ** اندر آن سودا فرو شد تا عنق
His thoughts have turned to the Súfí guest: he is sunk up to the neck (wholly absorbed) in that business.
لازم آمد باز رفتن زین مقال ** سوی آن افسانه بهر وصف حال
(Therefore) it behoves me to go back from this discourse to that story in order to describe what happened (to him).
صوفی آن صورت مپندار ای عزیز ** همچو طفلان تا کی از جوز و مویز
O dear friend, do not fancy the Súfí is the (external) form (which you behold): how long, like children, (will you be content) with walnuts and raisins?
جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر ** گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر200
Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;
ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق ** بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق
And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).
بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را ** لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را
Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.
.
.
حلقه‌ای آن صوفیان مستفید ** چون که در وجد و طرب آخر رسید
When at last (the meditation of) that circle of Súfís who were seeking (spiritual) profit came to an end (culminated) in ecstasy and enthusiasm,
خوان بیاوردند بهر میهمان ** از بهیمه یاد آورد آن زمان
They brought dishes of food for the guest, and he then bethought him of his beast.
گفت خادم را که در آخر برو ** راست کن بهر بهیمه کاه و جو205
He said to the famulus (the servant of the Súfís), “Go into the stable and make the straw and barley all right for the animal.”
گفت لا حول این چه افزون گفتن است ** از قدیم این کارها کار من است
“Good gracious!” he replied, “why this saying overmuch? These things have been my care since long ago.”
گفت تر کن آن جوش را از نخست ** کان خر پیر است و دندانهاش سست
The Súfí said, “First wet his barley, for ’tis an old ass, and his teeth are shaky.”
گفت لاحول این چه میگویی مها ** از من آموزند این ترتیبها
“Good gracious!” said he, “why are you telling (me) this, Sir? They are taught by me (to make) these arrangements.”
گفت پالانش فرو نه پیش پیش ** داروی منبل بنه بر پشت ریش
The Súfí said, “First of all take off his saddle and (then) put the salve of manbal on his sore back.”
گفت لاحول آخر ای حکمت گزار ** جنس تو مهمانم آمد صد هزار210
“Good gracious!” exclaimed the servant. “Why, O purveyor of wisdom, I have had a thousand guests of your sort,
جمله راضی رفتهاند از پیش ما ** هست مهمان جان ما و خویش ما
And all have departed from us well-pleased: the guest is (dear to us as) our life and our kinsman.”
گفت آبش ده و لیکن شیر گرم ** گفت لاحول از توام بگرفت شرم
The Súfí said, “Give him water, but (let it be) lukewarm.” “Good gracious!” cried the other, “I am ashamed of you.”
گفت اندر جو تو کمتر کاه کن ** گفت لاحول این سخن کوتاه کن
The Súfí said, “Put (only) a little straw in his barley.” “Good gracious! Cut short this speech,” he replied.
گفت جایش را بروب از سنگ و پشک ** ور بود تر ریز بر وی خاک خشک
The Súfí said, “Sweep his place (clear) of stones and dung, and if it is wet, sprinkle dry earth on it.”
گفت لاحول ای پدر لاحول کن ** با رسول اهل کمتر گو سخن215
“Good gracious!” cried he, “implore God's grace, O father and say little (give few instructions) to a messenger who knows his business.”
گفت بستان شانه پشت خر بخار ** گفت لاحول ای پدر شرمی بدار
The Súfí said, “Take the comb and curry the ass's back.” “Good gracious! do have some shame, O father,” said he.
خادم این گفت و میان را بست چست ** گفت رفتم کاه و جو آرم نخست
The servant said this and briskly girded up his loins. “I go,” said he; “first I will fetch the straw and barley.”
رفت و از آخر نکرد او هیچ یاد ** خواب خرگوشی بدان صوفی بداد
Off he went and never thought of the stable at all: he gave that Súfí (a pretence like) the sleep of the hare.
رفت خادم جانب اوباش چند ** کرد بر اندرز صوفی ریشخند
The servant went off to (join) some rascals and made a mockery of the Súfí's admonition.