A boy outside shouted “Halwá!” and bragged of (the excellence of) the halwá in hope of (getting) some dángs.
شیخ اشارت کرد خادم را به سر ** که برو آن جمله حلوا را بخر
The Shaykh with (a nod of) his head directed the famulus to go and buy the whole of the halwá,
تا غریمان چون که آن حلوا خورند ** یک زمانی تلخ در من ننگرند
(Saying to himself), “so that the creditors, when they eat the halwá, for a (short) while may not look bitterly on me.”
در زمان خادم برون آمد به در ** تا خرد او جمله حلوا ز ان پسر395
The famulus at once went out through the doorway to buy with gold the halwá entire.
گفت او را جملهی حلوا به چند ** گفت کودک نیم دیناری و اند
He said to the boy, “How much is the halwá in the lump?” The boy said, “Half a dinar and some small change.”
گفت نه از صوفیان افزون مجو ** نیم دینارت دهم دیگر مگو
“Nay,” he replied; “don't ask too much from Súfís: I will give you half a dinar. Say no more.”
او طبق بنهاد اندر پیش شیخ ** تو ببین اسرار سر اندیش شیخ
The boy put the tray before the Shaykh. Behold (now) the mysterious secret thoughts of the Shaykh!
کرد اشارت با غریمان کین نوال ** نک تبرک خوش خورید این را حلال
He made a sign to the creditors (as though to say), “Look, this gift (of sweetmeat) is a present (to you): eat this gladly, it is lawful (food).”
چون طبق خالی شد آن کودک ستد ** گفت دینارم بده ای با خرد400
When the tray was emptied, the boy took it and said, “Give me the gold, O Sage.”
شیخ گفتا از کجا آرم درم ** وام دارم میروم سوی عدم
The Shaykh said, “From where shall I get the money? I am in debt and going towards non-existence.”
کودک از غم زد طبق را بر زمین ** ناله و گریه بر آورد و حنین
The boy in (his) grief dashed the tray upon the ground; he raised (his voice in) lamentation and weeping and moaning.
میگریست از غبن کودک های های ** کای مرا بشکسته بودی هر دو پای
The boy was weeping with loud sobs because of the swindle, (and crying), “Would that both my legs had been broken (ere I came hither)!
کاشکی من گرد گلخن گشتمی ** بر در این خانقه نگذشتمی
Would that I had loitered round the bath-stove and had not passed by the door of this monastery!
صوفیان طبل خوار لقمه جو ** سگ دلان و همچو گربه روی شو405
Lickspittle gluttonous Súfís, dogs at heart and washing their faces like cats!”
از غریو کودک آن جا خیر و شر ** گرد آمد گشت بر کودک حشر
At the boy's clamour all and sundry gathered there and crowded round the boy.
پیش شیخ آمد که ای شیخ درشت ** تو یقین دان که مرا استاد کشت
He came to the Shaykh and said, “O cruel Shaykh, know for sure that my master will kill me (with blows).
گر روم من پیش او دست تهی ** او مرا بکشد اجازت میدهی
If I go (back) to him empty-handed, he will kill me: wilt thou give (him) leave (to do that)?”
و آن غریمان هم به انکار و جحود ** رو به شیخ آورده کاین باری چه بود
And those creditors too turned to the Shaykh with disbelief and denial, saying, “What was this anyhow?
مال ما خوردی مظالم میبری ** از چه بود این ظلم دیگر بر سری410
Thou hast devoured our property and art carrying off thy iniquities (to the next world): for what reason was this other injustice (put) on the top (of all the rest)?”
تا نماز دیگر آن کودک گریست ** شیخ دیده بست و در وی ننگریست
Till afternoon prayers the boy wept; the Shaykh closed his eyes and did not look at him.
شیخ فارغ از جفا و از خلاف ** در کشیده روی چون مه در لحاف
The Shakyh, unconcerned with abuse and opposition, had withdrawn his moon-like face under the coverlet,
با ازل خوش با اجل خوش شاد کام ** فارغ از تشنیع و گفت خاص و عام
Pleased with eternity, pleased with death, joyous, unconcerned with revilement and the talk of high or low.
آن که جان در روی او خندد چو قند ** از ترش رویی خلقش چه گزند
He in whose face the Beloved smiles sweetly, what harm can befall him from the sour looks of (other) people?
آن که جان بوسه دهد بر چشم او ** کی خورد غم از فلک وز خشم او415
He on whose eye the Beloved bestows a kiss, how should he grieve at Heaven and its anger?
در شب مهتاب مه را بر سماک ** از سگان و عوعو ایشان چه باک
On a moonlight night what cares the moon in (the mansion of) Simák for dogs and their barking?
سگ وظیفهی خود به جا میآورد ** مه وظیفهی خود به رخ میگسترد
The dog is performing his task; the moon is smoothly fulfilling her task by means of her (bright) countenance.
کارک خود میگزارد هر کسی ** آب نگذارد صفا بهر خسی
Every one is executing his little business: water does not lose purity because of a bit of weed (rubbish).
خس خسانه میرود بر روی آب ** آب صافی میرود بیاضطراب
The weeds float weedily (contemptibly) on the surface of the water: the water flows on pure (and) undisturbed.
Mustafá (Mohammed) splits the moon at midnight; Abú Lahab from hatred talks drivel.
آن مسیحا مرده زنده میکند ** و آن جهود از خشم سبلت میکند
The Messiah (Jesus) brings the dead to life, and the Jew tears his moustache in wrath.
بانگ سگ هرگز رسد در گوش ماه ** خاصه ماهی کاو بود خاص اله
Does the dog's bark ever reach the moon's ear, especially that Moon who is the chosen of God?
میخورد شه بر لب جو تا سحر ** در سماع از بانگ چغزان بیخبر
The king drinks wine on the bank of the stream till dawn, and in listening to the music is unaware of the croaking of the frogs.
هم شدی توزیع کودک دانگ چند ** همت شیخ آن سخا را کرد بند
The division of (the money due to) the boy (amongst the creditors) would have been (only a few dángs (for each to pay); (but) the Shaykh's (spiritual) influence stopped that generosity,
تا کسی ندهد به کودک هیچ چیز ** قوت پیران از این بیش است نیز425
So that no one should give the boy anything: the power of the Pírs is even greater than this.
شد نماز دیگر آمد خادمی ** یک طبق بر کف ز پیش حاتمی
(When) it was (time for) afternoon prayers, a servant came with a tray in his hand from one like Hátim,
صاحب مالی و حالی پیش پیر ** هدیه بفرستاد کز وی بد خبیر
A man of property and condition: he sent it as a present to the Pír (Shaykh), for he knew about him.
چار صد دینار بر گوشهی طبق ** نیم دینار دگر اندر ورق
(There were) four hundred dinars, and in a corner of the tray another half-dinar in a piece of paper.
خادم آمد شیخ را اکرام کرد ** و آن طبق بنهاد پیش شیخ فرد
The servant advanced and did honour to the Shaykh, and laid the tray before the peerless Shaykh.