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 پنداشتند525
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 آشوفتن530
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 گران535
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.”
چون گذشت آن نوش و جوش و آن سماع ** روز گشت و جمله گفتند الوداع
When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
خانقه خالی شد و صوفی بماند ** گرد از رخت آن مسافر میفشاند540
The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage.
رخت از حجره برون آورد او ** تا به خر بر بندد آن همراه جو
He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.
تا رسد در همرهان او میشتافت ** رفت در آخر خر خود را نیافت
He was hurrying that he might overtake his fellow-travellers; he went into the stable but did not find the ass.
گفت آن خادم به آبش برده است ** ز انکه خر دوش آب کمتر خورده است
He said, “The servant has taken it (the ass) to water, because it drank little water last night.”