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2
514-538

  • صوفیی در خانقاه از ره رسید ** مرکب خود برد و در آخر کشید
  • A Súfí, after journeying, arrived at a monastery (for Súfís); he took his mount and led it to the stable.

  • آب کش داد و علف از دست خویش ** نه چنان صوفی که ما گفتیم پیش‏ 515
  • With his own hand he gave it a little water and some fodder: (he was) not such a Súfí as the one we told of before.

  • احتیاطش کرد از سهو و خباط ** چون قضا آید چه سود است احتیاط
  • He took precaution for it against neglect and craziness, (but) when the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, of what avail is precaution?

  • صوفیان در جوع بودند و فقیر ** کاد فقر أن یعی کفرا یبیر
  • The Súfís were destitute and poor: poverty almost comprises an infidelity that brings (the soul) to perdition.

  • ای توانگر که تو سیری هین مخند ** بر کجی آن فقیر دردمند
  • O thou rich man who art full fed, beware of laughing at the unrighteousness of the suffering poor.

  • از سر تقصیر آن صوفی رمه ** خر فروشی در گرفتند آن همه‏
  • On account of their destitution that Súfí flock, all of them, adopted (the expedient of) selling the ass,

  • کز ضرورت هست مرداری مباح ** بس فسادی کز ضرورت شد صلاح‏ 520
  • Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.”

  • هم در آن دم آن خرک بفروختند ** لوت آوردند و شمع افروختند
  • They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.

  • ولوله افتاد اندر خانقه ** کامشبان لوت و سماع است و شره‏
  • Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.

  • چند از این صبر و از این سه روزه چند ** چند از این زنبیل و این دریوزه چند
  • How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?

  • ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
  • We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”

  • تخم باطل را از آن می‏کاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند 525
  • Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.

  • و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
  • And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).

  • صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش می‏باختند
  • The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).

  • گفت چون می‏دید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی‏
  • When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”

  • لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
  • They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—

  • دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن‏ 530
  • The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.

  • گاه دست افشان قدم می‏کوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را می‏روفتند
  • Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).

  • دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
  • (Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;

  • جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق‏
  • Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;

  • از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او می‏زیند
  • (But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.

  • چون سماع آمد از اول تا کران ** مطرب آغازید یک ضرب گران‏ 535
  • When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain.

  • خر برفت و خر برفت آغاز کرد ** زین حراره جمله را انباز کرد
  • He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.

  • زین حراره پای کوبان تا سحر ** کف‏زنان خر رفت و خر رفت ای پسر
  • From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"

  • از ره تقلید آن صوفی همین ** خر برفت آغاز کرد اندر حنین‏
  • By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”