از گرفت من ز جان اسپر کنید ** گرچه اکنون هم گرفتار منید
“Make of your souls a shield against my taking (you) captive, though (in truth) ye are my captives even now.”
مرغ فتنه دانه بر بامست او ** پر گشاده بسته‌ی دامست او620
The bird tempted by the bait is (still) on the roof: with wings outspread, it is (nevertheless) imprisoned in the trap.
چون به دانه داد او دل را به جان ** ناگرفته مر ورا بگرفته دان
Inasmuch as with (all) its soul it has given its heart to (has become enamoured of) the bait, deem it caught, (though apparently it is still) uncaught.
آن نظرها که به دانه می‌کند ** آن گره دان کو به پا برمی‌زند
Deem the looks which it is directing to the bait to be the knot that it is tying on its legs.
دانه گوید گر تو می‌دزدی نظر ** من همی دزدم ز تو صبر و مقر
The bait says, “If thou art stealing thy looks (away from me) I am stealing from thee patience and constancy.
چون کشیدت آن نظر اندر پیم ** پس بدانی کز تو من غافل نیم
When those looks have drawn thee after me, then thou wilt know that I am not inattentive to thee.”
قصه‌ی عطاری کی سنگ ترازوی او گل سرشوی بود و دزدیدن مشتری گل خوار از آن گل هنگام سنجیدن شکر دزدیده و پنهان
Story of the druggist whose balance-weight was clay for washing the head; and how a customer, who was a clay-eater, stole some of that clay covertly and secretly, whilst sugar was being weighed.
پیش عطاری یکی گل‌خوار رفت ** تا خرد ابلوج قند خاص زفت625
A certain clay-eater went to a druggist to buy (a quantity of) fine hard sugar-loaf.
پس بر عطار طرار دودل ** موضع سنگ ترازو بود گل
Now, at the druggist's, (who was) a crafty vigilant man, in place of the balance-weight there was clay.
گفت گل سنگ ترازوی منست ** گر ترا میل شکر بخریدنست
He said, “If you want to buy sugar, my balance-weight is clay.”
گفت هستم در مهمی قندجو ** سنگ میزان هر چه خواهی باش گو
He (the customer) said, “I am requiring sugar for an urgent affair: let the balance-weight be whatever you wish.”
گفت با خود پیش آنک گل‌خورست ** سنگ چه بود گل نکوتر از زرست
To himself he said, “What does the weight matter to one that eats clay? Clay is better than gold.”
هم‌چو آن دلاله که گفت ای پسر ** نو عروسی یافتم بس خوب‌فر630
As the dallála (go-between) who said, “O son, I have found a very beautiful new bride (for you).
سخت زیبا لیک هم یک چیز هست ** که آن ستیره دختر حلواگرست
(She is) exceedingly pretty, but there is just one thing, that the lady is a confectioner's daughter.”
گفت بهتر این چنین خود گر بود ** دختر او چرب و شیرین‌تر بود
“(All the) better,” said he; “if it is indeed so, his daughter will be fatter and sweeter.”
گر نداری سنگ و سنگت از گلست ** این به و به گل مرا میوه‌ی دلست
“If you have no (proper) weight and your weight is of clay, this is better and better: clay is the fruit (desired) of my heart.”
اندر آن کفه‌ی ترازو ز اعتداد ** او به جای سنگ آن گل را نهاد
He (the druggist) placed the clay, because of its being ready (to his hand), in one scale of the balance instead of the (proper) weight;
پس برای کفه‌ی دیگر به دست ** هم به قدر آن شکر را می‌شکست635
Then, for the other scale, he was breaking with his hand the equivalent amount of sugar.
چون نبودش تیشه‌ای او دیر ماند ** مشتری را منتظر آنجا نشاند
Since he had no pick-axe, he took a long time and made the customer sit waiting.
رویش آن سو بود گل‌خور ناشکفت ** گل ازو پوشیده دزدیدن گرفت
(Whilst) his face was (turned) towards that (sugar), the clay-eater, unable to restrain himself, began covertly to steal the clay from him,
ترس ترسان که نباید ناگهان ** چشم او بر من فتد از امتحان
Terribly frightened lest his (the druggist's) eye should fall upon him of a sudden for the purpose of testing (his honesty).
دید عطار آن و خود مشغول کرد ** که فزون‌تر دزد هین ای روی‌زرد
The druggist saw it, but made himself busy, saying, “Come, steal more, O pale-faced one!
گر بدزدی وز گل من می‌بری ** رو که هم از پهلوی خود می‌خوری640
If you will be a thief and take some of my clay, go on (doing so), for you are eating out of your own side.
تو همی ترسی ز من لیک از خری ** من همی‌ترسم که تو کمتر خوری
You are afraid of me, but (only) because you are a (stupid) ass: I am afraid you will eat less (too little).
گرچه مشغولم چنان احمق نیم ** که شکر افزون کشی تو از نیم
Though I am occupied, I am not such a fool (as to suffer) that you should get too much of my sugar-cane.
چون ببینی مر شکر را ز آزمود ** پس بدانی احمق و غافل کی بود
When you see (find) by experience the (amount of) sugar (which you have bought), then you will know who was foolish and careless.”