هر که تنها نادرا این ره برید ** هم به عون همت پیران رسید
If any one, by rare exception, traversed this Way alone (without a Pír), he arrived (at his goal) through the help of the spiritual influence of the Pírs.
دست پیر از غایبان کوتاه نیست ** دست او جز قبضهی الله نیست2975
The hand of the Pír is not withdrawn from the absent (those who are not under his authority): his hand is naught but the grasp of God.
غایبان را چون چنین خلعت دهند ** حاضران از غایبان لا شک بهند
Inasmuch as they give such a robe of honour to the absent, (what must they give their disciples?): undoubtedly the present are better than the absent.
غایبان را چون نواله میدهند ** پیش مهمان تا چه نعمتها نهند
Since they are bestowing (spiritual) food on the absent, see what bounties they must lay before the guest.
کو کسی که پیش شه بندد کمر ** تا کسی که هست بیرون سوی در
Where is one that girds himself (for service) before the king to (i.e. how far superior is he to) one that is outside the door?
چون گزیدی پیر نازک دل مباش ** سست و ریزیده چو آب و گل مباش
When thou hast chosen thy Pír, be not faint-hearted, be not weak as water and crumbly as earth.
گر بهر زخمی تو پر کینه شوی ** پس کجا بیصیقل آیینه شوی2980
If thou art enraged by every blow, then how wilt thou become a (clear) mirror without being polished?
کبودی زدن قزوینی بر شانگاه صورت شیر و پشیمان شدن او به سبب زخم سوزن
How the man of Qazwín was tattooing the figure of a lion in blue on his shoulders, and (then) repenting because of the (pain of the) needle-pricks.
این حکایت بشنو از صاحب بیان ** در طریق و عادت قزوینیان
Hear from the narrator this story about the way and custom of the people of Qazwín.
بر تن و دست و کتفها بیگزند ** از سر سوزن کبودیها زنند
They tattoo themselves in blue with the point of a needle on body and hand and shoulders, so as to suffer no injury.
سوی دلاکی بشد قزوینیی ** که کبودم زن بکن شیرینیی
A certain man of Qazwín went to a barber and said, “Tattoo me (and) do it charmingly (artistically).”
گفت چه صورت زنم ای پهلوان ** گفت بر زن صورت شیر ژیان
“O valiant sir,” said he, “what figure shall I tattoo?” He answered, “Prick in the figure of a furious lion.
طالعم شیر است نقش شیر زن ** جهد کن رنگ کبودی سیر زن2985
Leo is my ascendant: tattoo the form of a lion. Exert yourself, prick in plenty of the blue dye.”
گفت بر چه موضعت صورت زنم ** گفت بر شانهگهم زن آن رقم
“On what place,” he asked, “shall I tattoo you?” Said he, “Prick the design on my shoulder-blade.”
چون که او سوزن فرو بردن گرفت ** درد آن در شانگه مسکن گرفت
As soon as he began to stick in the needle, the pain of it settled in the shoulder,
پهلوان در ناله آمد کای سنی ** مر مرا کشتی چه صورت میزنی
And the hero fell a-moaning—“O illustrious one, you have killed me: what figure are you tattooing?”
گفت آخر شیر فرمودی مرا ** گفت از چه عضو کردی ابتدا
“Why,” said he, “you bade me do a lion.” “What limb (of the lion),” asked the other, “did you begin with?”
گفت از دمگاه آغازیدهام ** گفت دم بگذار ای دو دیدهام2990
“I have begun at the tail,” said he. “O my dear friend,” he cried, “leave out the tail!
از دم و دمگاه شیرم دم گرفت ** دمگه او دمگهم محکم گرفت
My breath is stopped by the lion's tail and rump: his rump has tightly closed (choked) my windpipe.
شیر بیدم باش گو ای شیر ساز ** که دلم سستی گرفت از زخم گاز
Let the lion be without a tail, O lion-maker, for my heart is faint from the blows of the prong (the tattooer's needle).”
جانب دیگر گرفت آن شخص زخم ** بیمحابا بیمواسا بیز رحم
That person commenced to prick in (the blue) on another part (of the man's shoulder) without fear, without favour, without mercy.
بانگ کرد او کاین چه اندام است از او ** گفت این گوش است ای مرد نکو
He yelled—“Which of his members is this?” “This is his ear, my good man,” the barber replied.
گفت تا گوشش نباشد ای حکیم ** گوش را بگذار و کوته کن گلیم2995
“O Doctor,” said he, “let him have no ears: omit the ears and cut the frock short.”
جانب دیگر خلش آغاز کرد ** باز قزوینی فغان را ساز کرد
The barber began to insert (his needle) in another part: once more the man of Qazwín set out to wail,
کاین سوم جانب چه اندام است نیز ** گفت این است اشکم شیر ای عزیز
Saying, “What is the member (you are pricking in) now on this third spot?” He replied, “This is the lion's belly, my dear sir.”
گفت تا اشکم نباشد شیر را ** چه شکم باید نگار سیر را
“Let the lion have no belly,” said he: “the pain has become too great: do not strike (further) blows.”