نعل‌بندان را نمود آن خر که چیست ** علت او که نتیجه‌ش لاغریست
She showed the ass to the shoeing smiths and asked, "What is his ailment of which the result is leanness?"
هیچ علت اندرو ظاهر نشد ** هیچ کس از سر او مخبر نشد 1340
No ailment was discerned in him, no one gave information concerning the secret (cause) thereof.
در تفحص اندر افتاد او به جد ** شد تفحص را دمادم مستعد
(Then) she began to investigate in earnest: she became prepared to investigate at every moment.
جد را باید که جان بنده بود ** زانک جد جوینده یابنده بود
The soul must needs be devoted to earnest endeavour, for the earnest seeker will be a finder.
چون تفحص کرد از حال اشک ** دید خفته زیر خر آن نرگسک
Postquam rem asini perscrutata est, ancillulam narcisso similem vidit sub asino cubantem. [When she investigated the ass’s condition, she saw the little narcissus (the maidservant) lying under the ass.]
از شکاف در بدید آن حال را ** بس عجب آمد از آن آن زال را
Through a crack in the door she saw what was going on: the old woman marvelled greatly thereat.
خر همی‌گاید کنیزک را چنان ** که به عقل و رسم مردان با زنان 1345
(Vidit) asinum futuentem ancillam sicut viri ratione et more (concumbunt) cum feminis. [(She saw) the ass copulating with the maidservant in the manner that men reasonably and customarily (do) with women.]
در حسد شد گفت چون این ممکنست ** پس نم اولیتر که خر ملک منست
She became envious and said, “Since this is possible, then I have the best right, for the ass is my property.
خر مهذب گشته و آموخته ** خوان نهادست و چراغ افروخته
The ass has been perfectly trained and instructed: the table is laid and the lamp is lighted.”
کرد نادیده و در خانه بکوفت ** کای کنیزک چند خواهی خانه روفت
Feigning to have seen nothing, she knocked at the door of the room (stable), saying, “How long will you be sweeping the room, O maid?”