گفت خواجه صبر کن با او بگو ** که ازو ببریم و بدهیمش به تو
“Have patience,” said the Khwája: “tell him, ‘We will break off (the match) with him (the prospective bridegroom) and give her to you,’
تا مگر این از دلش بیرون کنم ** تو تماشا کن که دفعش چون کنم 285
That perchance I may banish this (hope) from his mind: watch and see how I will thwart him.
تو دلش خوش کن بگو می‌دان درست ** که حقیقت دختر ما جفت تست
Gladden his heart and say, ‘Know for sure that our daughter is really your (destined) spouse.
ما ندانستیم ای خوش مشتری ** چونک دانستیم تو اولیتری
O goodly wooer, we didn't know (that you desired her): (now), since we know (that), you are the most worthy.
آتش ما هم درین کانون ما ** لیلی آن ما و تو مجنون ما
Our fire is in our own hearth: Laylá (the bride) is ours, and you are our Majnún (bridegroom).’
تا خیال و فکر خوش بر وی زند ** فکر شیرین مرد را فربه کند
(Tell him this) in order that happy fancies and thoughts may affect him: sweet thoughts make a man fat.
جانور فربه شود لیک از علف ** آدمی فربه ز عزست و شرف 290
An animal is made fat, but (only) by fodder; man is fattened by honour and eminence.
آدمی فربه شود از راه گوش ** جانور فربه شود از حلق و نوش
Man is fattened through his ear; an animal is fattened through its gullet and by eating and drinking.”
گفت آن خاتون ازین ننگ مهین ** خود دهانم کی بجنبد اندرین
The mistress said, “Such a vile disgrace! How indeed shall my lips move in this matter?
این چنین ژاژی چه خایم بهر او ** گو بمیر آن خاین ابلیس‌خو
Why should I talk drivel like this for his sake? Let the devilish traitor die!”
گفت خواجه نی مترس و دم دهش ** تا رود علت ازو زین لطف خوش
“Nay,” replied the Khwája, “have no fear, but wheedle him, in order that his illness may depart from him by virtue of this sweet flattery.
دفع او را دلبرا بر من نویس ** هل که صحت یابد آن باریک‌ریس 295
Charge me with the task of thwarting him, O beloved, and let that spinner of fine yarns regain his health.”
چون بگفت آن خسته را خاتون چنین ** می‌نگنجید از تبختر بر زمین
When the mistress had spoken in this strain to the invalid, on account of his swagger there was no room for him on the earth.
زفت گشت و فربه و سرخ و شکفت ** چون گل سرخ هزاران شکر گفت
He grew stout and fat and red(-cheeked), and bloomed like a red rose and gave a thousand thanks.
که گهی می‌گفت ای خاتون من ** که مبادا باشد این دستان و فن
Now and again he would say, “O my mistress, (I am afraid) lest this may be a deception and trick.”
خواجه جمعیت بکرد و دعوتی ** که همی‌سازم فرج را وصلتی
The Khwája gave a party and a feast, saying (to his guests), “I am making a match for Faraj,”
تا جماعت عشوه می‌دادند و گان ** که ای فرج بادت مبارک اتصال 300
So that the company chaffed and quizzed (him) and said, “May your marriage be blessed, O Faraj!”
تا یقین‌تر شد فرج را آن سخن ** علت از وی رفت کل از بیخ و بن
With the result that the promise seemed to Faraj more sure, and his illness vanished entirely and radically.
بعد از آن اندر شب گردک به فن ** امردی را بست حنی هم‌چو زن
Afterwards, on the wedding-night, he (the Khwája) artfully dyed (the hands and feet of) a youth with henna, like (those of) a woman.
پر نگارش کرد ساعد چون عروس ** پس نمودش ماکیان دادش خروس
He decorated his fore-arms like (those of) a bride: then he displayed to him (Faraj) a hen, but (actually) he gave him a cock;
مقنعه و حله‌ی عروسان نکو ** کنگ امرد را بپوشانید او
(For) he dressed the sturdy youth in the veil and robes of beautiful brides.
شمع را هنگام خلوت زود کشت ** ماند هندو با چنان کنگ درشت 305
Quo tempore mos est sponsam cum conjuge in thalamo relinquere, (paterfamilias) candelam statim exstinxit: manebat Indus coram tali adulescente robusto et aspero. [He (the Khwája) immediately extinguished the candle (at) the time of (conjugal) privacy: the Hindu was left (alone) with such a rough and strong-bodied (young) man.]
هندوک فریاد می‌کرد و فغان ** از برون نشنید کس از دف‌زنان
Indulus clamorem et ululatum tollebat, (sed) tympanistarum causa nemo extra (thalamum) audiebat. [The little Hindú was screaming and crying out, (but) no one heard from without (the bedchamber) because of (the noise of) the tambourine-players.]
ضرب دف و کف و نعره‌ی مرد و زن ** کرد پنهان نعره‌ی آن نعره‌زن
Tympana pulsata, manus complosae, virorum et feminarum clamores clamorem illius (pueri) clamitantis celabant. [The pounding of tambourines, (clapping of) hands, and the loud shouts of men and women masked the screams of that screamer.]
تا به روز آن هندوک را می‌فشارد ** چون بود در پیش سگ انبان آرد
(Adulescens) istum Indulum comprimebat usque ad diluculum: coram cane quid fiat sacco farinae?) [He (the youth) squeezed the little Hindú until the (break of) day: how is a bag of flour (to remain untorn) before a (hungry) dog?]