آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
صبر گیریم امشب از خور تن زنیم ** بهر فردا لوت را پنهان کنیم 2405
To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.”
گفت مومن امشب این خورده شود ** صبر را بنهیم تا فردا بود
The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
پس بدو گفتند زین حکمت‌گری ** قصد تو آن است تا تنها خوری
Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
گفت ای یاران نه که ما سه تنیم ** چون خلاف افتاد تا قسمت کنیم
“O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
هرکه خواهد قسم خود بر جان زند ** هرکه خواهد قسم خود پنهان کند
Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
آن دو گفتندش ز قسمت در گذر ** گوش کن قسام فی‌النار از خبر 2410
The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).”
گفت قسام آن بود کو خویش را ** کرد قسمت بر هوا و بر خدا
He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”
ملک حق و جمله قسم اوستی ** قسم دیگر را دهی دوگوستی
Thou art God's property and His share entirely: (if) thou givest the share (of God) to another, thou art a dualist.
این اسد غالب شدی هم بر سگان ** گر نبودی نوبت آن بدرگان
This lion would have prevailed over the curs, if it had not been the turn of those evil-natured ones (to prevail).
قصدشان آن کان مسلمان غم خورد ** شب برو در بی‌نوایی بگذرد
’Twas their intention that the Moslem should suffer pain and pass the night in want of food.
بود مغلوب او به تسلیم و رضا ** گفت سمعا طاعة اصحابنا 2415
He was overpowered: he said, with resignation and acquiescence, “My friends, I hear and obey.”
پس بخفتند آن شب و برخاستند ** بامدادان خویش را آراستند
So they slept (all) that night, and in the morning they rose and dressed themselves,
روی شستند و دهان و هر یکی ** داشت اندر ورد راه و مسلکی
And washed their faces and mouths; and each one had a (different) method and practice in his devotions.
یک زمانی هر کسی آورد رو ** سوی ورد خویش از حق فضل‌جو
For a while each one applied himself to his devotions, seeking favour from God.
مومن و ترسا جهود و گبر و مغ ** جمله را رو سوی آن سلطان الغ
True believer and Christian, Jew and Guebre and Magian— the faces of them all are (turned) towards that mighty Sultan.
بلک سنگ و خاک و کوه و آب را ** هست واگشت نهانی با خدا 2420
Nay, stone and earth and mountain and water have their invisible recourse to God.
این سخن پایان ندارد هر سه یار ** رو به هم کردند آن دم یاروار
This topic is infinite. At that time the three companions looked on one another friendlily,
آن یکی گفتا که هر یک خواب خویش ** آنچ دید او دوش گو آور به پیش
And one (of them) said, “Let each (of us) relate what he dreamed last night.
هرکه خوابش بهتر این را او خورد ** قسم هر مفضول را افضل برد
Let him who had the best dream eat this (sweetmeat): let the most excellent carry off the share of every one that is excelled (by him).”
آنک اندر عقل بالاتر رود ** خوردن او خوردن جمله بود
He who mounts highest in (the scale of) reason—his eating is (equivalent to) the eating of all (his inferiors).
فوق آمد جان پر انوار او ** باقیان را بس بود تیمار او 2425
His luminous spirit is supreme: ’tis enough for the rest of them to tend (cherish) him.
عاقلان را چون بقا آمد ابد ** پس به معنی این جهان باقی بود
Since those endowed with (perfect) reason endure for ever, in reality this world is enduring for ever.
پس جهود آورد آنچ دیده بود ** تا کجا شب روح او گردیده بود
Then the Jew related his dream (and told them) whither his spirit had wandered during the night.
گفت در ره موسی‌ام آمد به پیش ** گربه بیند دنبه اندر خواب خویش
He said, “Moses met me on the way, (according to the adage) ‘the cat sees a fat sheep's tail in her dreams.’