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,
من چه دارم که فداات نیست آن ** که ز من فریاد داری هر زمان 4480
What do I possess that is not sacrificed to thee: (why, then, is it) that thou art always crying out at me?
بر لب خشکم گشادستی زبان ** گاه مفلس خوانیم گه قلتبان
Thou hast let loose thy tongue at my dry crusts: now thou callest me ‘pauper,’ now ‘cuckold.’
این دو علت گر بود ای جان مرا ** آن یکی از تست و دیگر از خدا
If, my dear, I suffer from these two maladies, one (the latter) comes from thee and the other from God.
من چه دارم غیر آن صندوق که آن ** هست مایه‌ی تهمت و پایه‌ی گمان
What do I possess but that chest, which is a source of suspicion and a ground for (evil) surmise?
خلق پندارند زر دارم درون ** داد واگیرند از من زین ظنون
People think I keep gold in it, and because of these (false) opinions charity is withheld from me.
صورت صندوق بس زیباست لیک ** از عروض و سیم و ز خالیست نیک 4485
The appearance of the chest is very pleasing, but it is quite empty of goods and silver and gold.
چون تن زراق خوب و با وقار ** اندر آن سله نیابی غیر مار
(’Tis) like the person of a hypocrite, (one who is) handsome and dignified; (but) in the basket you will find nothing except a snake.
من برم صندوق را فردا به کو ** پس بسوزم در میان چارسو
To-morrow I will take the chest into the street and burn it in the midst of the market at the cross-ways,
تا ببیند مومن و گبر و جهود ** که درین صندوق جز لعنت نبود
That true believer and Zoroastrian and Jew may see there was nothing in this chest but (cause for) cursing.”
گفت زن هی در گذر ای مرد ازین ** خورد سوگندان که نکنم جز چنین
“O husband,” cried the woman, “come now, give up this (idea)!” (However), he swore several times that he would do just as he had said.
از پگه حمال آورد او چو باد ** زود آن صندوق بر پشتش نهاد 4490
Early (next morning) he (went) like the wind, fetched a porter, and immediately put the chest on his back.
اندر آن صندوق قاضی از نکال ** بانگ می‌زد که ای حمال و ای حمال
(He set off with it, while) the cadi inside the chest shouted in an agony (of terror), “O porter! O porter!”
کرد آن حمال راست و چپ نظر ** کز چه سو در می‌رسد بانک و خبر
The porter looked to the right and the left to see from what direction the shouts and warnings were coming.