ور تو آن را فرع گیری و مضر ** چشم تو در اصل باشد منتظر

ور تو آن را فرع گیری و مضر ** چشم تو در اصل باشد منتظر 3705

For if thou take it to be (merely) a branch (derivative) and pernicious, thine eye will be waiting to see the root.

زهر آمد انتظارش اندر چشش ** دایما در مرگ باشی زان روش

Waiting to see is poison to (spiritual) perception: by that method thou wilt remain perpetually in death.

اصل دان آن را بگیرش در کنار ** بازره دایم ز مرگ انتظار

Recognise it as the root, clasp it to thy bosom, and be for ever delivered from the death of waiting to see.

نواختن سلطان ایاز را

How the Sultan (Mahmud) showed favour to Ayáz.

ای ایاز پر نیاز صدق‌کیش ** صدق تو از بحر و از کوهست بیش

“O Ayáz, who art full of humbleness and sincere in all thy ways, thy sincerity is mightier than sea and mountain.

نه به وقت شهوتت باشد عثار ** که رود عقل چو کوهت کاه‌وار

For thee there is no stumbling in the hour of lust, so that thy reason, which resembles a mountain (in solidity), should go (hither and thither) like a straw;

نه به وقت خشم و کینه صبرهات ** سست گردد در قرار و در ثبات 3710

Nor in the hour of anger and vengeance do thy powers of long-suffering fail to hold fast and firm.”

مردی این مردیست نه ریش و ذکر ** ورنه بودی شاه مردان کیر خر

Virilitas haec virilitas est, barba et penis non est; sin minus, rex virorum esset veretrum asini. [Manhood is this manliness, not (just) a beard and a penis; otherwise, an ass’s penis would be the king of men.]

حق کرا خواندست در قرآن رجال ** کی بود این جسم را آنجا مجال

Whom has God in the Qur’an called men? How should there be room for this body there?

روح حیوان را چه قدرست ای پدر ** آخر از بازار قصابان گذر

What worth has the animal soul? O father, come now, pass through the market of the butchers,

صد هزاران سر نهاده بر شکم ** ارزشان از دنبه و از دم کم

(And you will see) a hundred thousand (sheeps’) heads laid on paunches (tripe), of which (heads) the value is less than (that of) the fat caudal part and tail.

روسپی باشد که از جولان کیر ** عقل او موشی شود شهوت چو شیر 3715

Meretrix est (quaevis femina) cui penis impetu mens (tanquam) mus fiat, libido tanquam leo. [A prostitute is (one) who, due to the movement of a penis, (her) intellect becomes a mouse (and her) lust like a lion.]

وصیت کردن پدر دختر را کی خود را نگهدار تا حامله نشوی از شوهرت

How a father enjoined his daughter to take care lest she should become with child by her husband.

خواجه‌ای بودست او را دختری ** زهره‌خدی مه‌رخی سیمین‌بری

There was a Khwája who had a daughter with cheeks like (those of) Venus, a face like the moon, and a breast (white) as silver.

گشت بالغ داد دختر را به شو ** شو نبود اندر کفائت کفو او

(When) she reached maturity, he gave his daughter to a husband: as regards social rank the husband was not a (good) match for her.

خربزه چون در رسد شد آبناک ** گر بنشکافی تلف گردد هلاک

When a melon is ripe it becomes watery and goes to waste and ruin unless you slice it.

چون ضرورت بود دختر را بداد ** او بناکفوی ز تخویف فساد

Since it was (a case of) necessity, he gave his daughter to one who was not (socially) her match, in fear of the evil (that might ensue).

گفت دختر را کزین داماد نو ** خویشتن پرهیز کن حامل مشو 3720

He said to his daughter, “Guard thyself from this new bridegroom, do not become with child;

کز ضرورت بود عقد این گدا ** این غریب‌اشمار را نبود وفا

For thy marriage to this beggar was (dictated) by necessity; there is no constancy in this vagabond fellow.

ناگهان به جهد کند ترک همه ** بر تو طفل او بماند مظلمه

Of a sudden he will jump off and leave all behind: his child will remain on thy hands as a wrong (for which there is no redress).”

گفت دختر کای پدر خدمت کنم ** هست پندت دل‌پذیر و مغتنم

The daughter replied, “O father, I will do service (to thee): thy counsel is acceptable and prized.”

هر دو روزی هر سه روزی آن پدر ** دختر خود را بفرمودی حذر

Every two or three days the father would enjoin his daughter to take precautions;

حامله شد ناگهان دختر ازو ** چون بود هر دو جوان خاتون و شو 3725

(Nevertheless) she suddenly became with child by him (her husband): how should it be (otherwise when) both the wife and the husband are young?.

از پدر او را خفی می‌داشتش ** پنج ماهه گشت کودک یا که شش

She kept it (the child) hidden from her father, (till) the child was five or six months old.

گشت پیدا گفت بابا چیست این ** من نگفتم که ازو دوری گزین

(Then) the discovery was made. “What is this?” asked her father; “did not I tell thee to adopt (the practice of) withdrawal from him?

این وصیتهای من خود باد بود ** که نکردت پند و وعظم هیچ سود

These injunctions of mine were (mere) wind, forsooth! My counsel and exhortations have been of no use to thee.”

گفت بابا چون کنم پرهیز من ** آتش و پنبه‌ست بی‌شک مرد و زن

“Father,” said she, “how should I guard myself? Man and wife, beyond doubt, are (as) fire and cotton.