آنچنان نامه‌ی پلید پر وبال ** در یمین ناید درآید در شمال
Such a foul and noxious scroll does not come into the right hand; it comes into the left hand.
خود همین‌جا نامه‌ی خود را ببین ** دست چپ را شاید آن یا در یمین 2155
Here also (in this world) regard your scroll (the record of your actions), (and consider) whether it fits the left hand or the right.
موزه‌ی چپ کفش چپ هم در دکان ** آن چپ دانیش پیش از امتحان
In the (bootmaker's) shop, can you know before trying (them) on that the left boot or shoe belongs to the left (foot)?
چون نباشی راست می‌دان که چپی ** هست پیدا نعره‌ی شیر و کپی
When you are not “right,” know that you are “left”; the cries of a lion and an ape are distinct (from one another).
آنک گل را شاهد و خوش‌بو کند ** هر چپی را راست فضل او کند
He (God) who makes the rose lovely and sweet-scented—His bounty makes every “left” to be “right.”
هر شمالی را یمینی او دهد ** بحر را ماء معینی او دهد
He bestows “rightness” on every one belonging to the “left” He bestows a(fresh) running water on the (salt) sea.
گر چپی با حضرت او راست باش ** تا ببینی دست‌برد لطفهاش 2160
If you are “left,” be “right” (in perfect harmony) with His Lordship, that you may see His mercies prevail (over His wrath).
تو روا داری که این نامه‌ی مهین ** بگذرد از چپ در آید در یمین
Do you think it allowable that this vile scroll (of yours) should pass from the left hand and come into the right?
این چنین نامه که پرظلم و جفاست ** کی بود خود درخور اندر دست راست
How indeed should a scroll like this, which is full of iniquity and injury, be fit (to place) in the right hand?
در بیان کسی کی سخنی گوید کی حال او مناسب آن سخن و آن دعوی نباشد چنان که کفره و لن سالتهم من خلق السموات والارض لیقولن الله خدمت بت سنگین کردن و جان و زر فدای او کردن چه مناسب باشد با جانی کی داند کی خالق سموات و ارض و خلایق الهیست سمیعی بصیری حاضری مراقبی مستولی غیوری الی آخره
Explaining the case of a person who makes a statement when his behaviour is not consistent with that statement and profession, like the infidels (of whom God hath said): “and if thou ask them who created the heavens and the earth they will surely say, ‘Allah.’” How is the worship of a stone idol and the sacrifice of life and wealth for its sake appropriate to a soul which knows that the creator of heaven and earth and (all) created beings is a God, all-hearing, all-seeing, omnipresent, all-observing, all dominating, jealous, etc.?
زاهدی را یک زنی بد بس غیور ** هم بد او را یک کنیزک هم‌چو حور
A certain ascetic had a very jealous wife: he also had a maid-servant (beautiful) as a houri.
The wife used to watch her husband jealously and not let him be alone with the maid.
مدتی زن شد مراقب هر دو را ** تاکشان فرصت نیفتد در خلا 2165
For a long time the wife watched them both, lest an opportunity should occur for their being alone (together)—
تا در آمد حکم و تقدیر اله ** عقل حارس خیره‌سر گشت و تباه
Until the decree and fore-ordainment of God arrived: (then) the watchman, Reason, became giddy-headed and good-for-nothing.
حکم و تقدیرش چو آید بی‌وقوف ** عقل کی بود در قمر افتد خسوف
When His decree and fore-ordainment arrives unawares, who is Reason? Eclipse overtakes (even) the moon.
بود در حمام آن زن ناگهان ** یادش آمد طشت و در خانه بد آن
The wife was at the (public) bath: suddenly she remembered the wash-basin and (that) it was (had been left) at home.
با کنیزک گفت رو هین مرغ‌وار ** طشت سیمین را ز خانه‌ی ما بیار
She said to the maid, “Hark, go like a bird and fetch the silver basin from our house.”
آن کنیزک زنده شد چون این شنید ** که به خواجه این زمان خواهد رسید 2170
On hearing this, the maid came to life, for (she knew that) now she would obtain (a meeting with) the master,
خواجه در خانه‌ست و خلوت این زمان ** پس دوان شد سوی خانه شادمان
(Since) the master was then at home and alone. So she ran joyously to the house.
عشق شش ساله کنیزک را بد این ** که بیابد خواجه را خلوت چنین
For six years the maid had been longing to find the master alone like this.
گشت پران جانب خانه شتافت ** خواجه را در خانه در خلوت بیافت
She flew off and hastened towards the house: she found the master at home and alone.
هر دو عاشق را چنان شهوت ربود ** که احتیاط و یاد در بستن نبود
Desire took possession of both the lovers so (mightily) that they had no care or thought of bolting the door.
هر دو با هم در خزیدند از نشاط ** جان به جان پیوست آن دم ز اختلاط 2175
Ambo summa alacritate coierunt: copulatis corporibus anima cum anima conjuncta est. [Both moved toward one another from joy; by means of (bodily) copulation, soul joined to soul (in) that moment.]
یاد آمد در زمان زن را که من ** چون فرستادم ورا سوی وطن
Then the wife recollected (and said to herself), “Why did I send her (back) to the house?
پنبه در آتش نهادم من به خویش ** اندر افکندم قج نر را به میش
I have set the cotton on fire with my own hand, I have put the lusty ram to the ewe.”
گل فرو شست از سر و بی‌جان دوید ** در پی او رفت و چادر می‌کشید
She washed off the clay (soap) from her head and ran, beside herself (with anxiety): she went in pursuit of her (the maid), drawing the chádar (over her head as she ran).