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6
235-284

  • گرچه او خود شاه را محبوب بود  ** ظاهر و باطن لطیف و خوب بود  235
  • Even though he was beloved by the king (Mahmúd), and was charming and beauteous outwardly and inwardly—
  • گشته بی‌کبر و ریا و کینه‌ای  ** حسن سلطان را رخش آیینه‌ای 
  • (For) he had become devoid of any arrogance or ostentation or malice, and his face was a mirror for the beauty of the king—
  • چونک از هستی خود او دور شد  ** منتهای کار او محمود بد 
  • (Yet ’twas only) because he was far removed from his (self-) existence, (that) the end of his affair was praiseworthy.
  • زان قوی‌تر بود تمکین ایاز  ** که ز خوف کبر کردی احتراز 
  • The steadfastness of Ayáz was all the firmer forasmuch as he was taking (those) precautions in fear of arrogance.
  • او مهذب گشته بود و آمده  ** کبر را و نفس را گردن زده 
  • He had been purified, and he had come and smitten the neck of (had beheaded) arrogance and selfishness.
  • یا پی تعلیم می‌کرد آن حیل  ** یا برای حکمتی دور از وجل  240
  • He was practising these devices either for the purpose of instructing (others) or for the sake of some principle of wisdom far removed from fear;
  • یا که دید چارقش زان شد پسند  ** کز نسیم نیستی هستیست بند 
  • Or (perhaps) the sight of his rustic shoon pleased him because (self-)existence is a shutter against the breeze of not-being,
  • تا گشاید دخمه کان بر نیستیست  ** تا بیاید آن نسیم عیش و زیست 
  • (And he looked at them) in order that the charnel-house which is (built) on not-being might open, and that he might feel the breeze of vitality and life.
  • ملک و مال و اطلس این مرحله  ** هست بر جان سبک‌رو سلسله 
  • The wealth and riches and silks of this travellers' halt are a chain on the light-footed spirit.
  • سلسله‌ی زرین بدید و غره گشت  ** ماند در سوراخ چاهی جان ز دشت 
  • The spirit espied the golden chain and was beguiled: it remained in the hole of a dungeon (far) from the open country.
  • صورتش جنت به معنی دوزخی  ** افعیی پر زهر و نقشش گل رخی  245
  • Its (the world's) appearance is (that of) Paradise, (but) in reality it is a hell; it is a viper full of venom, though its figure is (that of) a rose-cheeked (beauty).
  • گرچه مؤمن را سقر ندهد ضرر  ** لیک هم بهتر بود زانجا گذر 
  • Although Hell-fire does no injury to the true believer, yet ’tis still better to pass on from that place (and leave it behind).
  • گرچه دوزخ دور دارد زو نکال  ** لیک جنت به ورا فی کل حال 
  • Although Hell keeps its torment far from him, yet in any case Paradise is better for him.
  • الحذر ای ناقصان زین گلرخی  ** که بگاه صحبت آمد دوزخی 
  • O ye deficient (in understanding), beware of this rose-cheeked one who at the time of intercourse becomes (like) a hell.
  • حکایت غلام هندو کی به خداوندزاده‌ی خود پنهان هوای آورده بود چون دختر را با مهتر زاده‌ای عقد کردند غلام خبر یافت رنجور شد و می‌گداخت و هیچ طبیب علت او را در نمی‌یافت و او را زهره‌ی گفتن نه 
  • Story of the Hindú slave who had secretly fallen in love with his master's daughter. On learning that the girl was betrothed to the son of a nobleman, the slave sickened and began to waste away. No physician could diagnose his malady, and he (the slave) durst not tell.
  • خواجه‌ای را بود هندو بنده‌ای  ** پروریده کرده او را زنده‌ای 
  • A certain Khwája had a Hindú slave whom he had educated and enlivened (with knowledge).
  • علم و آدابش تمام آموخته  ** در دلش شمع هنر افروخته  250
  • He had taught him science and all polite accomplishments; he had lighted the candle of erudition in his heart.
  • پروریدش از طفولیت به ناز  ** در کنار لطف آن اکرام‌ساز 
  • That beneficent man had brought him up indulgently from childhood in the lap of kindness.
  • بود هم این خواجه را خوش دختری  ** سیم‌اندامی گشی خوش‌گوهری 
  • This Khwája had also a fair daughter, silver-limbed, lovely, and of excellent disposition.
  • چون مراهق گشت دختر طالبان  ** بذل می‌کردند کابین گران 
  • When the girl had almost reached womanhood, the suitors (for her hand) were offering heavy dowries,
  • می‌رسیدش از سوی هر مهتری  ** بهر دختر دم به دم خوزه‌گری 
  • And there was continually coming to him (the Khwája) from every nobleman a wooer to ask for the girl (in marriage).
  • گفت خواجه مال را نبود ثبات  ** روز آید شب رود اندر جهات  255
  • The Khwája said (to himself), “Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning, and at night it goes in all directions (is scattered to the winds).
  • حسن صورت هم ندارد اعتبار  ** که شود رخ زرد از یک زخم خار 
  • Physical beauty too has no importance, for a (rosy) face is made yellow (pale) by a single thorn-scratch.
  • سهل باشد نیز مهترزادگی  ** که بود غره به مال و بارگی 
  • Noble birth also is of small account, for he (such an one) is befooled by money and horses.”
  • ای بسا مهتربچه کز شور و شر  ** شد ز فعل زشت خود ننگ پدر 
  • Oh, there is many a nobleman's son who in riot and mischief has disgraced his father by his wicked deeds.
  • پر هنر را نیز اگر باشد نفیس  ** کم پرست و عبرتی گیر از بلیس 
  • Do not court a man full of talent either, (even) if he be exquisite (in that respect), and take a warning from (the example of) Iblís.
  • علم بودش چون نبودش عشق دین  ** او ندید از آدم الا نقش طین  260
  • He (Iblís) had knowledge, (but) since he had not religious love, he beheld in Adam nothing but a figure of clay.
  • گرچه دانی دقت علم ای امین  ** زانت نگشاید دو دیده‌ی غیب‌بین 
  • Though you may know (all) the minutiae of knowledge, O trustworthy (scholar), not by that (means) will your two (inward) eyes that discern the invisible be opened.
  • او نبیند غیر دستاری و ریش  ** از معرف پرسد از بیش و کمیش 
  • He (the scholar) sees nothing but a turban and beard: he asks the announcer (for information) about his (the stranger's) merits and demerits.
  • عارفا تو از معرف فارغی  ** خود همی‌بینی که نور بازغی 
  • (But) you, O knower (of God), have no need of the announcer: you see for yourself, for you are the rising light.
  • کار تقوی دارد و دین و صلاح  ** که ازو باشد بدو عالم فلاح 
  • The (only) thing that matters is fear of God and religion and piety, of which the result is happiness in both worlds.
  • کرد یک داماد صالح اختیار  ** که بد او فخر همه خیل و تبار  265
  • He (the Khwája) chose a pious son-in-law who was the pride of the whole clan and stock.
  • پس زنان گفتند او را مال نیست  ** مهتری و حسن و استقلال نیست 
  • Then the women said, “He has no riches, he has neither nobility nor beauty nor independence.”
  • گفت آنها تابع زهدند و دین  ** بی‌زر او گنجیست بر روی زمین 
  • He replied, “Those things are secondary to asceticism and religion: he (the pious man), (though) without gold, is a treasure on the face of the earth.”
  • چون به جد تزویج دختر گشت فاش  ** دست پیمان و نشانی و قماش 
  • When it became known that the girl was going to be married in earnest, (as was proved by) the hand-promise, the tokens, and the wedding-outfit,
  • پس غلام خرد که اندر خانه بود  ** گشت بیمار و ضعیف و زار زود 
  • The little slave, who was in the house, immediately became ill and weak and poorly.
  • هم‌چو بیمار دقی او می‌گداخت  ** علت او را طبیبی کم شناخت  270
  • He was wasting away like one suffering from phthisis: no physician could recognise his ailment.
  • عقل می‌گفتی که رنجش از دلست  ** داروی تن در غم دل باطلست 
  • Reason declared that the malady had its source in his heart (and that) medicine for the body is useless for heart-ache.
  • آن غلامک دم نزد از حال خویش  ** کز چه می‌آید برو در سینه نیش 
  • The little slave breathed no word of his (real) state and did not tell what was the cause of the pangs in his breast.
  • گفت خاتون را شبی شوهر که تو  ** باز پرسش در خلا از حال او 
  • One night the husband said to his wife, “Ask him privately what is the matter with him.
  • تو به جای مادری او را بود  ** که غم خود پیش تو پیدا کند 
  • You are in the place of a mother to him: maybe he will disclose his trouble to you.”
  • چونک خاتون در گوش این کلام  ** روز دیگر رفت نزدیک غلام  275
  • When the mistress heard these words, next day she went to the slave.
  • پس سرش را شانه می‌کرد آن ستی  ** با دو صد مهر و دلال و آشتی 
  • Then the dame combed his head very fondly with many endearments and signs of friendliness.
  • آنچنان که مادران مهربان  ** نرم کردش تا در آمد در بیان 
  • In the fashion of fond mothers she soothed him until he began to explain,
  • که مرا اومید از تو این نبود  ** که دهی دختر به بیگانه‌ی عنود 
  • Saying, “I did not expect this from you—that you would give your daughter to a cross-grained stranger.
  • خواجه‌زاده‌ی ما و ما خسته‌جگر  ** حیف نبود که رود جای دگر 
  • She is my master's child, and I am heart-sick: is it not a shame that she should go elsewhere (as a bride)?”
  • خواست آن خاتون ز خشمی که آمدش  ** که زند وز بام زیر اندازدش  280
  • The mistress, (impelled) by the anger that rose in her, was about to strike him and hurl him down from the roof,
  • کو که باشد هندوی مادرغری  ** که طمع دارد به خواجه دختری 
  • Saying (to herself), “Who is he, a whoreson Hindú, that he should desire a Khwája's daughter?”
  • گفت صبر اولی بود خود را گرفت  ** گفت با خواجه که بشنو این شگفت 
  • (But) she said, “Patience is best,” and restrained herself; (afterwards) she said to the Khwája, “Listen to this wonderful thing!
  • این چنین گراء کی خاین بود  ** ما گمان برده که هست او معتمد 
  • Such a wretched slave a traitor! (And) we thought he could be trusted!”
  • صبر فرمودن خواجه مادر دختر را کی غلام را زجر مکن من او را بی‌زجر ازین طمع باز آرم کی نه سیخ سوزد نه کباب خام ماند 
  • How the Khwája bade the girl's mother be patient, saying, “Don't scold the slave: without scolding him I will make him abandon this desire in such a way that neither will the spit be burnt nor the meat be left uncooked.
  • 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,’