نعل‌بندان را نمود آن خر که چیست ** علت او که نتیجه‌ش لاغریست
She showed the ass to the shoeing smiths and asked, "What is his ailment of which the result is leanness?"
هیچ علت اندرو ظاهر نشد ** هیچ کس از سر او مخبر نشد 1340
No ailment was discerned in him, no one gave information concerning the secret (cause) thereof.
در تفحص اندر افتاد او به جد ** شد تفحص را دمادم مستعد
(Then) she began to investigate in earnest: she became prepared to investigate at every moment.
جد را باید که جان بنده بود ** زانک جد جوینده یابنده بود
The soul must needs be devoted to earnest endeavour, for the earnest seeker will be a finder.
چون تفحص کرد از حال اشک ** دید خفته زیر خر آن نرگسک
Postquam rem asini perscrutata est, ancillulam narcisso similem vidit sub asino cubantem. [When she investigated the ass’s condition, she saw the little narcissus (the maidservant) lying under the ass.]
از شکاف در بدید آن حال را ** بس عجب آمد از آن آن زال را
Through a crack in the door she saw what was going on: the old woman marvelled greatly thereat.
خر همی‌گاید کنیزک را چنان ** که به عقل و رسم مردان با زنان 1345
(Vidit) asinum futuentem ancillam sicut viri ratione et more (concumbunt) cum feminis. [(She saw) the ass copulating with the maidservant in the manner that men reasonably and customarily (do) with women.]
در حسد شد گفت چون این ممکنست ** پس نم اولیتر که خر ملک منست
She became envious and said, “Since this is possible, then I have the best right, for the ass is my property.
خر مهذب گشته و آموخته ** خوان نهادست و چراغ افروخته
The ass has been perfectly trained and instructed: the table is laid and the lamp is lighted.”
کرد نادیده و در خانه بکوفت ** کای کنیزک چند خواهی خانه روفت
Feigning to have seen nothing, she knocked at the door of the room (stable), saying, “How long will you be sweeping the room, O maid?”
از پی روپوش می‌گفت این سخن ** کای کنیزک آمدم در باز کن
She spoke these words as a blind (and added), “I have come, O maid: open the door.”
کرد خاموش و کنیزک را نگفت ** راز را از بهر طمع خود نهفت 1350
(Then) she became silent and said no more to the maid: she concealed the secret for the sake of her own desire.
پس کنیزک جمله آلات فساد ** کرد پنهان پیش شد در را گشاد
Thereupon the maid hid all the apparatus of iniquity and came forward and opened the door.
رو ترش کرد و دو دیده پر ز نم ** لب فرو مالید یعنی صایمم
She made her face sour and her eyes full of moisture (tears) and rubbed her lips (against each other), meaning to say, “I am fasting.”
در کف او نرمه جاروبی که من ** خانه را می‌روفتم بهر عطن
In her hand was a soft broom, as though to say, “I was sweeping the room in order to clean it.”
چونک باع جاروب در را وا گشاد ** گفت خاتون زیر لب کای اوستاد
When, with the broom (in her hand), she opened the door, the mistress said under her breath, “O crafty one,
رو ترش کردی و جاروبی به کف ** چیست آن خر برگسسته از علف 1355
You have made your face sour and (taken) a broom in your hand; what is (the meaning of) the ass having turned away from his fodder?
نیم کاره و خشمگین جنبان ذکر ** ز انتظار تو دو چشمش سوی در
Re semiconfecta, iratus, agitans veretrum: quia te exspectat ideo (sunt) duo oculi ejus ad januam (conversi).” [Half-finished and angry, (its) penis (was still) moving: its (the ass’s) two eyes (were turned) toward the door in expectation of you.”]
زیر لب گفت این نهان کرد از کنیز ** داشتش آن دم چو بی‌جرمان عزیز
This she said under her breath and concealed (her thought) from the maid: at that moment she treated her, like innocent persons, honourably.
بعد از آن گفتش که چادر نه به سر ** رو فلان خانه ز من پیغام بر
Afterwards she said to her, “Put the chádar on your head, go and take a message from me to such and such a house.
این چنین گو وین چنین کن وآنچنان ** مختصر کردم من افسانه‌ی زنان
Say so-and-so and do so-and-so.” I abridge the talk of the women.
آنچ مقصودست مغز آن بگیر ** چون براهش کرد آن زال ستیر 1360
Take the gist of what is to the purpose. When the discreet old woman had sent her (the maid) away,
بود از مستی شهوت شادمان ** در فرو بست و همی‌گفت آن زمان
Propter ebrietatem libidinis gaudebat: she shut the door, saying meanwhile, [She was happy from the intoxication of (her) lust: she shut the door, saying meanwhile,]
یافتم خلوت زنم از شکر بانگ ** رسته‌ام از چار دانگ و از دو دانگ
“I have secured privacy, I will shout in thanksgiving: I am delivered from the four dángs and the two dángs.”
از طرب گشته بزان زن هزار ** در شرار شهوت خر بی‌قرار
Gaudio hircus (prurigo) feminae quae in igne libidinis asini inquieta erat mille factus est. [From joy, the woman’s goat (of lust) had become a thousand (-fold); (she became) restless in the sparks of the ass’s lust.]