بر درش ماندند ایشان پنج روز ** شب بسرما روز خود خورشیدسوز
Five days they remained at his door: (they passed) the night in the cold, the day itself in the blaze of the sun.
نه ز غفلت بود ماندن نه خری ** بلک بود از اضطرار و بی‌خری
Their remaining (there) was not from heedlessness or asininity; nay, it was from necessity and want of an ass.
با لیمان بسته نیکان ز اضطرار ** شیر مرداری خورد از جوع زار610
From necessity, the good are (often) bound to the vile: from sore hunger the lion will eat a putrid carcase.
او همی‌دیدش همی‌کردش سلام ** که فلانم من مرا اینست نام
He (the townsman) would see him (the countryman) and salute him, saying, “I am so-and-so, this is my name.”
گفت باشد من چه دانم تو کیی ** یا پلیدی یا قرین پاکیی
“Maybe,” he said; “how should I know who thou art, whether thou art a dirty fellow or an honest gentleman?”
گفت این دم با قیامت شد شبیه ** تا برادر شد یفر من اخیه
“This moment,” said he, “resembles the Resurrection, since a brother has come to flee from his brother.”
شرح می‌کردش که من آنم که تو ** لوتها خوردی ز خوان من دوتو
He would explain to him (the countryman), saying, “I am he from whose table thou didst eat viands manifold.
آن فلان روزت خریدم آن متاع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع615
On such and such a day I bought that merchandise for thee: every secret that goes beyond the two (who share it) is published (to all).
سر مهر ما شنیدستند خلق ** شرم دارد رو چو نعمت خورد حلق
The people heard the secret of our affection; (as a rule) when the gullet has received bounty, the face hath (signs of) bashfulness.”
او همی‌گفتش چه گویی ترهات ** نه ترا دانم نه نام تو نه جات
He (the countryman) would say to him, “Why dost thou talk nonsense? I know neither thee nor thy name nor thy dwelling-place.”
پنجمین شب ابر و بارانی گرفت ** کاسمان از بارشش دارد شگفت
On the fifth night there began such a (storm of) cloud and rain that the sky might (well) be astonished at its raining.
چون رسید آن کارد اندر استخوان ** حلقه زد خواجه که مهتر را بخوان
When the knife reached the bone, the Khwája knocked at the door, crying, “Call the master!”
چون بصد الحاح آمد سوی در ** گفت آخر چیست ای جان پدر620
When (at last), in response to a hundred urgent entreaties, he came to the door, he said, “Why, what is it, my dear sir?”
گفت من آن حقها بگذاشتم ** ترک کردم آنچ می‌پنداشتم
He replied, “I abandon those claims (to thy gratitude), I renounce that (recompense) which I was fancying.
پنج‌ساله رنج دیدم پنج روز ** جان مسکینم درین گرما و سوز
I have suffered five years' pain: five days my miserable soul (hath been) amidst this heat and blaze.”
یک جفا از خویش و از یار و تبار ** در گرانی هست چون سیصد هزار
One injustice from kindred and friends and family is in heaviness as three hundred thousand,
زانک دل ننهاد بر جور و جفاش ** جانش خوگر بود با لطف و وفاش
Because he (the sufferer) did not set his mind on (anticipate) his (the friend's) cruelty and injustice: his soul was accustomed to kindness and faithfulness from him.
هرچه بر مردم بلا و شدتست ** این یقین دان کز خلاف عادتست625
Whatsoever is tribulation and sore grief to men, know for sure that this is in consequence of its being contrary to habit.
گفت ای خورشید مهرت در زوال ** گر تو خونم ریختی کردم حلال
He (the townsman) said (further), “O thou the sun of whose love is in decline, if thou hast shed my blood, I acquit thee.
امشب باران به ما ده گوشه‌ای ** تا بیابی در قیامت توشه‌ای
On this night of rain give us a nook (to shelter in), so that at the Resurrection thou mayst obtain a viaticum (reward for the good work).”
گفت یک گوشه‌ست آن باغبان ** هست اینجا گرگ را او پاسبان
“There is a nook,” he replied, “belonging to the keeper of the vineyard: he keeps watch there against the wolf,
در کفش تیر و کمان از بهر گرگ ** تا زند گر آید آن گرگ سترگ
(With) bow and arrow in his hand on account of the wolf, so that he may shoot if the fierce wolf should come.
گر تو آن خدمت کنی جا آن تست ** ورنه جای دیگری فرمای جست630
If thou wilt do that service, the place is thine; and if not, have the kindness to seek another place.”
گفت صد خدمت کنم تو جای ده ** آن کمان و تیر در کفم بنه
He said, “I will do a hundred services, (only) give thou the place, and put that bow and arrow in my hand.
من نخسپم حارسی رز کنم ** گر بر آرد گرگ سر تیرش زنم
I will not sleep, I will guard the vines; if the wolf raise his head, I will shoot the arrow at him.