قصه کوته کن که قاضی شد شکار ** از مقال و از جمال آن نگار 4455
(To) cut the tale short, the cadi fell a prey to the (pleading) words and beauty of the fair woman.
گفت اندر محکمه‌ست این غلغله ** من نتوانم فهم کردن این گله
He said, “There is such a noise in the court of justice (that) I cannot understand this complaint;
گر به خلوت آیی ای سرو سهی ** از ستم‌کاری شو شرحم دهی
(But) if you will come to my private house, O cypress-slender one, and describe to me the injurious behaviour of your husband”—
گفت خانه‌ی تو ز هر نیک و بدی ** باشد از بهر گله آمد شدی
“In thy house,” she replied, “there will be a (constant) coming and going of every sort of people, good and bad, for the purpose of making complaints.”
خانه‌ی سر جمله پر سودا بود ** صدر پر وسواس و پر غوغا بود
(If) the house of the head be wholly filled with a mad passion, the breast will be full of anxiety and commotion.
The rest of the (bodily) members are undisturbed by thinking, while those breasts are consumed by thoughts that return.
در خزان و باد خوف حق گریز ** آن شقایق‌های پارین را بریز
Take refuge in the autumn gale of fear of God: let last year's flowers be shed;
این شقایق منع نو اشکوفه‌هاست ** که درخت دل برای آن نماست
(For) these flowers prevent the new buds (from blossoming), and it is (only) for the sake of their growth that the tree of the heart exists.
خویش را در خواب کن زین افتکار ** سر ز زیر خواب در یقظت بر آر
Put thyself to sleep (and escape) from this (vain) thinking: (then) lift up thy head from sleep into (spiritual) wakefulness.
هم‌چو آن اصحاب کهف ای خواجه زود ** رو به ایقاظا که تحسبهم رقود
Like the Men of the Cave (the Seven Sleepers), pass quickly, O Khwája, into (the state of those who are) awake, though thou wouldst deem them asleep.
گفت قاضی ای صنم معمول چیست ** گفت خانه‌ی این کنیزک بس تهیست 4465
“O adorable one,” said the cadi, “what can be contrived?” She answered, “This (thy) handmaid's house is quite empty.
خصم در ده رفت و حارس نیز نیست ** بهر خلوت سخت نیکو مسکنیست
The enemy has gone into the country, and the caretaker is not there either: it is a very good place for meeting in private.
امشب ار امکان بود آنجا بیا ** کار شب بی سمعه است و بی‌ریا
Come there to-night if possible: what one does by night is (done) without (the intention of) making (people) hear of it or see it;
جمله جاسوسان ز خمر خواب مست ** زنگی شب جمله را گردن زدست
(At that time) all the spies are intoxicated with the wine of sleep: all have been beheaded (and left as though lifeless) by the negro, Night.”
خواند بر قاضی فسون‌های عجب ** آن شکرلب وانگهانی از چه لب
The sugar-lipped (damsel) chanted wondrous spells over the cadi—and then with what (bewitching) lips!
چند با آدم بلیس افسانه کرد ** چون حوا گفتش بخور آنگاه خورد 4470
How often did Iblís palaver with Adam!—but when Eve told him to eat, then (and not till then) did he eat.
اولین خون در جهان ظلم و داد ** از کف قابیل بهر زن فتاد
The first blood (shed) in this world of iniquity and justice was shed by Qábíl (Cain) for the sake of a woman.
نوح چون بر تابه بریان ساختی ** واهله بر تابه سنگ انداختی
Whenever Noah was frying meat in the frying-pan, Wáhila (his wife) would throw stones at the frying-pan,
مکر زن بر کار او چیره شدی ** آب صاف وعظ او تیره شدی
And his wife's plotting would defeat his (missionary) work, (so that) the clear water of his exhortation would become turbid;
قوم را پیغام کردی از نهان ** که نگه دارید دین زین گمرهان
(For) she used to send secret messages to the (unbelieving) folk, saying, “Preserve your religion from (being corrupted by) these erring men!”
رفتن قاضی به خانه‌ی زن جوحی و حلقه زدن جوحی به خشم بر در و گریختن قاضی در صندوقی الی آخره
How the cadi went to the house of Júhí's wife, and how Júhí knocked angrily at the door, and how the cadi took refuge in a chest, etc.
مکر زن پایان ندارد رفت شب ** قاضی زیرک سوی زن بهر دب 4475
The guile of woman is infinite. The sagacious cadi went at night to the wife ut cum ea coiret. [The guile of woman is infinite. The sagacious cadi went at night to the wife (of Júhí) for sexual intercourse.]
زن دو شمع و نقل مجلس راست کرد ** گفت ما مستیم بی این آب‌خورد
The wife set two (lighted) candles and the dessert for his entertainment. “(I can do) without this drink,” said he: “I am intoxicated (with love).”
اندر آن دم جوحی آمد در بزد ** جست قاضی مهربی تا در خزد
At that moment Júhí came and knocked at the door: the cadi looked for a place into which he could slink for refuge.
غیر صندوقی ندید او خلوتی ** رفت در صندوق از خوف آن فتی
He saw no hiding-place but a chest: in his fright the man went into the chest.
اندر آمد جوحی و گفت ای حریف ** اتی وبالم در ربیع و در خریف
(Then) Júhí came in and said (to his wife), “O spouse, O thou who art my plague (both) in spring and autumn,