The wife showed (him) the sleeve of her chemise: the chemise was very coarse and dirty.
گفت از سختی تنم را می‌خورد ** کس کسی را کسوه زین سان آورد
“It is so rough,” said she, “it eats (wounds) my body: does any one get a garment of this kind for any one?”
گفت ای زن یک سالت می‌کنم ** مرد درویشم همین آمد فنم
He said, “O wife, I will ask you one question. I am a poor man: this is all I know (how to do).
این درشتست و غلیظ و ناپسند ** لیک بندیش ای زن اندیشه‌مند 1765
This (chemise) is rough and coarse and disagreeable, but think (well), O thoughtful (anxious) wife!
این درشت و زشت‌تر یا خود طلاق ** این ترا مکروه‌تر یا خود فراق
Is this (chemise) rougher and nastier, or divorce? Is this (chemise) more odious to you, or separation?”
هم‌چنان ای خواجه‌ی تشنیع زن ** از بلا و فقر و از رنج و محن
Even so, O Khwája who art reviling on account of affliction and poverty and distress and tribulations,
لا شک این ترک هوا تلخی‌دهست ** لیک از تلخی بعد حق بهست
No doubt this renunciation of sensuality gives bitter pain, but ’tis better than the bitterness of being far from God.
گر جهاد و صوم سختست و خشن ** لیک این بهتر ز بعد ممتحن
If fighting (against the flesh) and fasting are hard and rough, yet these are better than being far from Him who inflicts tribulation.
رنج کی ماند دمی که ذوالمنن ** گویدت چونی تو ای رنجور من 1770
How should pain endure for a single moment when the Giver of favours says to thee, “How art thou, O My sick one?”
ور نگوید کت نه آن فهم و فن است ** لیک آن ذوق تو پرسش کردنست
And (even) if He say (it) not, because thou hast not the understanding and knowledge (needed) for it, yet thy inward feeling (of supplication) is (equivalent to His) inquiring (after thee).
آن ملیحان که طبیبان دل‌اند ** سوی رنجوران به پرسش مایل‌اند
Those beauteous ones who are spiritual physicians turn towards the sick to inquire (after them);
وز حذر از ننگ و از نامی کنند ** چاره‌ای سازند و پیغامی کنند
And if they be afraid of (incurring) disgrace and (loss of) reputation, they devise some means and send a message;
ورنه در دلشان بود آن مفتکر ** نیست معشوقی ز عاشق بی‌خبر
Or if not, that (care for the sick) is pondered in their hearts: no beloved is unaware (forgetful) of his lover.
ای تو جویای نوادر داستان ** هم فسانه‌ی عشق‌بازان را بخوان 1775
O thou who desirest (to hear) a wondrous tale, read the story of them that play the game of love.
بس بجوشیدی درین عهد مدید ** ترک‌جوشی هم نگشتی ای قدید
Thou hast been boiling mightily during (all) this long time, (and yet), O dried meat, thou hast not even become half-cooked.
دیده‌ای عمری تو داد و داوری ** وانگه از نادیدگان ناشی‌تری
During a (whole) life-time thou hast seen the justice and jurisdiction (of God), and then (after all) thou art more ignorant than the blind.
هر که شاگردیش کرد استاد شد ** تو سپس‌تر رفته‌ای ای کور لد
Whoever serves Him as a pupil becomes a master, (but) thou hast gone backwards, O blind fool!
خود نبود از والدینت اختبار ** هم نبودت عبرت از لیل و نهار
Verily thou hast learned nothing from thy parents, nor hast thou taken a lesson from night and day.
مثل
Parable.
عارفی پرسید از آن پیر کشیش ** که توی خواجه مسن‌تر یا که ریش 1780
A (Súfí) gnostic asked an old Christian priest, “Sire, art thou the more advanced in age, or thy beard?”
گفت نه من پیش ازو زاییده‌ام ** بی ز ریشی بس جهان را دیده‌ام
He replied, “Nay; I was born before it: I have seen much of the world without a beard.”
گفت ریشت شد سپید از حال گشت ** خوی زشت تو نگردیدست وشت
He (the Súfí) said, “Thy beard has turned white, it has changed, (but) thy evil disposition has not become good.”
او پس از تو زاد و از تو بگذرید ** تو چنین خشکی ز سودای ثرید
It (thy beard) was born after thee and (yet) it has surpassed thee: thou art so dry (vain and unprofitable) because of thy passion for tharíd.
تو بر آن رنگی که اول زاده‌ای ** یک قدم زان پیش‌تر ننهاده‌ای
Thou art (still) of the same complexion with which thou wast born: thou hast not taken one step forward.
هم‌چنان دوغی ترش در معدنی ** خود نگردی زو مخلص روغنی 1785
Still thou art (as) sour buttermilk in the churn: in sooth thou hast not extracted any oil (butter) from it.
هم خمیری خمر طینه دری ** گرچه عمری در تنور آذری
Still thou art (as) dough in the jar of clay, though thou hast been a (whole) lifetime in the fiery oven.