تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
صبر گیریم امشب از خور تن زنیم ** بهر فردا لوت را پنهان کنیم 2405
To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.”
گفت مومن امشب این خورده شود ** صبر را بنهیم تا فردا بود
The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
پس بدو گفتند زین حکمت‌گری ** قصد تو آن است تا تنها خوری
Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
گفت ای یاران نه که ما سه تنیم ** چون خلاف افتاد تا قسمت کنیم
“O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
هرکه خواهد قسم خود بر جان زند ** هرکه خواهد قسم خود پنهان کند
Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
آن دو گفتندش ز قسمت در گذر ** گوش کن قسام فی‌النار از خبر 2410
The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).”
گفت قسام آن بود کو خویش را ** کرد قسمت بر هوا و بر خدا
He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”