گر بگویم او خیالی بر زند ** فعل دارد زن که خلوت می‌کند
“If I tell him (that he is not ill), he will cast up (conceive) a vain fancy (and will think to himself), ‘My wife has an (evil) design, for she is making arrangements to be alone.
مر مرا از خانه بیرون می‌کند ** بهر فسقی فعل و افسون می‌کند
She is getting me out of the house, she is plotting and cajoling for the purpose of some wickedness.’”
جامه خوابش کرد و استاد اوفتاد ** آه آه و ناله از وی می‌بزاد
She prepared his bed, and the master fell down (upon it): sighs and moans were arising from him.
کودکان آنجا نشستند و نهان ** درس می‌خواندند با صد اندهان
The boys sat there, reciting their lesson with a hundred sorrows in secret,
کین همه کردیم و ما زندانییم ** بد بنایی بود ما بد بانییم1585
Thinking, “We have done all this and (still) we are prisoners: it was a bad building (a badly devised plan), and we are bad builders.”
دوم بار وهم افکندن کودکان استاد را کی او را از قرآن خواندن ما درد سر افزاید
How for the second time the boys made the master imagine (that he was ill), saying that their recitation of the Qur’án would increase his headache.
گفت آن زیرک که ای قوم پسند ** درس خوانید و کنید آوا بلند
The clever boy said, “O good fellows, recite the lesson and make your voices loud.”
چون همی‌خواندند گفت ای کودکان ** بانگ ما استاد را دارد زیان
When they were reciting (loudly), he said, “Boys, the noise we are making will do the master harm.
درد سر افزاید استا را ز بانگ ** ارزد این کو درد یابد بهر دانگ
The master's headache will be increased by the noise: is it worth while that he should suffer pain for the sake of (a few) pence?”
The master said, “He is speaking the truth: depart. My headache is worse: go out (of the house)!”
خلاص یافتن کودکان از مکتب بدین مکر
How the boys escaped from school by this trick.
سجده کردند و بگفتند ای کریم ** دور بادا از تو رنجوری و بیم1590
They bowed and said, “O honoured sir, may illness and danger be far from you!”
پس برون جستند سوی خانه‌ها ** همچو مرغان در هوای دانه‌ها
Then they bounded off to their homes, like birds in desire of grain.
مادرانشان خشمگین گشتند و گفت ** روز کتاب و شما با لهو جفت
Their mothers became angry with them and said, “A school-day and you at play!”
عذر آوردند کای مادر تو بیست ** این گناه از ما و از تقصیر نیست
They offered excuses (every one of them), saying, “Stop, mother! This sin does not proceed from us and is not caused by our fault.
از قضای آسمان استاد ما ** گشت رنجور و سقیم و مبتلا
By the destiny of Heaven our master has become ill and sick and afflicted.”
مادران گفتند مکرست و دروغ ** صد دروغ آرید بهر طمع دوغ1595
The mothers said, “It is a trick and a lie: ye bring forward a hundred lies because of your greed for buttermilk.
ما صباح آییم پیش اوستا ** تا ببینیم اصل این مکر شما
In the morning we will come to (visit) the master, that we may see (what is at) the bottom of this trick of yours.”
کودکان گفتند بسم الله روید ** بر دروغ و صدق ما واقف شوید
“Go in God's name,” said the boys; “inform yourselves as to our lying or telling the truth.”
رفتن مادران کودکان به عیادت اوستاد
How the mothers of the boys went to visit the sick master.
بامدادان آمدند آن مادران ** خفته استا همچو بیمار گران
At morning those mothers came; (they found) the master in bed like one who is gravely ill,
هم عرق کرده ز بسیاری لحاف ** سر ببسته رو کشیده در سجاف
Perspiring on account of the great number of coverlets, his head bandaged and his face enveloped in the quilt.
آه آهی می‌کند آهسته او ** جملگان گشتند هم لا حول‌گو1600
He was moaning softly: they too all began to cry “Lá hawl.”
خیر باشد اوستاد این درد سر ** جان تو ما را نبودست زین خبر
They said, “Master, we hope all will be well. This headache— by thy soul, we were not aware of it.”
گفت من هم بی‌خبر بودم ازین ** آگهم مادر غران کردند هین
He replied, “I also was not aware of it; the whoresons (the scoundrelly boys) made me aware (of it), mark you.
من بدم غافل بشغل قال و قیل ** بود در باطن چنین رنجی ثقیل
I did not notice (it), through being busy with discourse (teaching), (but) within (me) there was such a severe malady.”
چون بجد مشغول باشد آدمی ** او ز دید رنج خود باشد عمی
When a man is busy in earnest, he is blind to the sight of (unconscious of) his pain.
از زنان مصر یوسف شد سمر ** که ز مشغولی بشد زیشان خبر1605
It has become an oft-told tale concerning the women of Joseph's Egypt that consciousness departed from them on account of their pre-occupation (with the beauty of Joseph).