هر محدث را خسان باذل کنند ** حرفش ار عالی بود نازل کنند 1240
Worthless folk humiliate every story-teller: if his words are lofty, they make them low;
زانک قدر مستمع آید نبا ** بر قد خواجه برد درزی قبا
For the tale is (lofty or low) in proportion to (the understanding of) the hearer: the tailor cuts the coat according to the Khwája's (customer's) figure.
صفت آن عجوز
[Description of the old woman.]
چونک مجلس بی چنین پیغاره نیست ** از حدیث پست نازل چاره نیست
Since the audience is not free from such reproach, there is no means of avoiding low and undignified talk.
واستان هین این سخن را از گرو ** سوی افسانه‌ی عجوزه باز رو
Hark, redeem this topic (of discourse) from pawn: return to the tale of the old woman.
چون مسن گشت و درین ره نیست مرد ** تو بنه نامش عجوز سال‌خورد
When he (any one) has become advanced in years and is not a man (adept) in this Way, bestow the name of “aged crone” upon him.
نه مرورا راس مال و پایه‌ای ** نه پذیرای قبول مایه‌ای 1245
He has neither (any spiritual) capital and basis, nor is he capable of receiving (such a) stock-in-trade.
نه دهنده نی پذیرنده‌ی خوشی ** نه درو معنی و نه معنی‌کشی
He is neither a giver nor a receiver of (spiritual) delight; in him there is neither reality nor (the power of) absorbing reality.
نه زبان نه گوش نه عقل و بصر ** نه هش و نه بیهشی و نه فکر
(He has) neither tongue nor ear nor understanding and insight nor consciousness nor unconsciousness nor reflections;
نه نیاز و نه جمالی بهر ناز ** تو بتویش گنده مانند پیاز
Neither humble supplication nor any beauty (with which) to show pride: his (whole interior), coat on coat, is stinking, like an onion.
نه رهی ببریده او نه پای راه ** نه تبش آن قحبه را نه سوز و آه
He has not traversed any path, nor (has he) the foot for (any power to traverse) the path: that shameless one has neither (inward) glow nor burning (passion) and sighs.
قصه‌ی درویشی کی از آن خانه هرچه می‌خواست می‌گفت نیست
Story of the dervish to whom, whenever he begged anything from a certain house, he (the owner) used to say, “It is not (to be had here).”
سایلی آمد به سوی خانه‌ای ** خشک نانه خواست یا تر نانه‌ای 1250
A beggar came to a house and asked for a piece of dry bread or a piece of moist (new) bread.
گفت صاحب‌خانه نان اینجا کجاست ** خیره‌ای کی این دکان نانباست
The owner of the house said, “Where is bread in this place? Are you crazy? How is this (house) a baker's shop?”
“At least,” he begged, “get me a little bit of fat.” “Why,” said he, “it isn't a butcher's shop.”
گفت پاره‌ی آرد ده ای کدخدا ** گفت پنداری که هست این آسیا
He said, “O master of the house, give me a pittance of flour.” “Do you think this is a mill?” he replied.
گفت باری آب ده از مکرعه ** گفت آخر نیست جو یا مشرعه
“Well then,” said he, “give me some water from the reservoir.” “Why,” he replied, “it isn't a river or a watering-place.”
هر چه او درخواست از نان یا سبوس ** چربکی می‌گفت و می‌کردش فسوس 1255
Whatever he asked for, from bread to bran, he (the householder) was mocking and deriding him.
آن گدا در رفت و دامن بر کشید ** اندر آن خانه بحسبت خواست رید
The beggar went in and drew up his skirt: in ea domo voluit consulto cacare. [The beggar went in and drew up his skirt: he wanted to defecate deliberately inside the house.]
گفت هی هی گفت تن زن ای دژم ** تا درین ویرانه خود فارغ کنم
He (the householder) cried, “Hey, hey!” “Be quiet, O morose man,” said he, “ut in hoc loco deserto alvum exonerem. [He (the householder) cried, “Hey, hey!” “Be quiet, O morose man,” said he, “so that I may relieve myself inside this desolate place.]
چون درینجا نیست وجه زیستن ** بر چنین خانه بباید ریستن
Since there is no means of living (zístan) here, upon a house like this cacare (rístan) oportet.” [Since there is no means of living (zístan) here, one should defecate (rístan) upon a house such as this.”]
چون نه‌ای بازی که گیری تو شکار ** دست آموز شکار شهریار
Since you are not a falcon, so as to (be able to) catch the prey, (a falcon) hand-trained for the King's hunting;
نیستی طاوس با صد نقش بند ** که به نقشت چشمها روشن کنند 1260
Nor a peacock painted with a hundred (beautiful) designs, so that (all) eyes should be illumined by the picture which you present;
هم نه‌ای طوطی که چون قندت دهند ** گوش سوی گفت شیرینت نهند
Nor a parrot, so that when sugar is given to you, (all) ears should bend to (listen to) your sweet talk;
هم نه‌ای بلبل که عاشق‌وار زار ** خوش بنالی در چمن یا لاله‌زار
Nor a nightingale to sing, like a lover, sweetly and plaintively in the meadow or the tulip-garden;
هم نه‌ای هدهد که پیکیها کنی ** نه چو لک‌لک که وطن بالا کنی
Nor a hoopoe to bring messages, nor are you like a stork to make your nest on high—
در چه کاری تو و بهر چت خرند ** تو چه مرغی و ترا با چه خورند
In what work are you (employed), and for what (purpose) are you bought? What (sort of) bird are you, and with what (digestive) are you eaten?