زن به دست مرد در وقت لقا ** چون خمیر آمد به دست نانبا
Femina viro in manus tempore congressus tradita is like dough in the hands of a baker. [A woman in the hands of a man at the moment of (such an) encounter is like dough in the hands of a baker.]
بسرشد گاهیش نرم و گه درشت ** زو بر آرد چاق چاقی زیر مشت
He kneads it now gently, now roughly, and makes it groan under (the thumps of) his fist;
گاه پهنش واکشد بر تخته‌ای ** درهمش آرد گهی یک لخته‌ای
Now he draws it out flat on a board (rolling-pin), now for a bit he rolls it up;
گاه در وی ریزد آب و گه نمک ** از تنور و آتشش سازد محک
Now he pours water on it and now salt: he puts it to the ordeal of oven and fire.
این چنین پیچند مطلوب و طلوب ** اندرین لعبند مغلوب و غلوب 3950
Thus are the sought and the seeker intertwined: (both) the conquered and the conqueror are (engaged) in this sport.
این لعب تنها نه شو را با زنست ** هر عشیق و عاشقی را این فنست
This sport is not between husband and wife only: this is the practice of everything that is loved and loves.
از قدیم و حادث و عین و عرض ** پیچشی چون ویس و رامین مفترض
A mutual embracing, like (that of) Wís and Rámín, is obligatory (Divinely ordained) between eternal and non-eternal and between substance and accident;
لیک لعب هر یکی رنگی دگر ** پیچش هر یک ز فرهنگی دگر
But the sport is of a different character in each case: the embracing is for a different reason in each instance.
شوی و زن را گفته شد بهر مثال ** که مکن ای شوی زن را بد گسیل
This is said as a parable for husband and wife, meaning, “O husband, do not dismiss thy wife unkindly.
آن شب گردک نه ینگا دست او ** خوش امانت داد اندر دست تو 3955
On thy wedding-night did not the bridesmaid place her (the wife's) hand in thy hand as a goodly trust?