پروریدش از طفولیت به ناز ** در کنار لطف آن اکرام‌ساز
That beneficent man had brought him up indulgently from childhood in the lap of kindness.
بود هم این خواجه را خوش دختری ** سیم‌اندامی گشی خوش‌گوهری
This Khwája had also a fair daughter, silver-limbed, lovely, and of excellent disposition.
چون مراهق گشت دختر طالبان ** بذل می‌کردند کابین گران
When the girl had almost reached womanhood, the suitors (for her hand) were offering heavy dowries,
می‌رسیدش از سوی هر مهتری ** بهر دختر دم به دم خوزه‌گری
And there was continually coming to him (the Khwája) from every nobleman a wooer to ask for the girl (in marriage).
گفت خواجه مال را نبود ثبات ** روز آید شب رود اندر جهات 255
The Khwája said (to himself), “Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning, and at night it goes in all directions (is scattered to the winds).
حسن صورت هم ندارد اعتبار ** که شود رخ زرد از یک زخم خار
Physical beauty too has no importance, for a (rosy) face is made yellow (pale) by a single thorn-scratch.
سهل باشد نیز مهترزادگی ** که بود غره به مال و بارگی
Noble birth also is of small account, for he (such an one) is befooled by money and horses.”
ای بسا مهتربچه کز شور و شر ** شد ز فعل زشت خود ننگ پدر
Oh, there is many a nobleman's son who in riot and mischief has disgraced his father by his wicked deeds.
پر هنر را نیز اگر باشد نفیس ** کم پرست و عبرتی گیر از بلیس
Do not court a man full of talent either, (even) if he be exquisite (in that respect), and take a warning from (the example of) Iblís.
علم بودش چون نبودش عشق دین ** او ندید از آدم الا نقش طین 260
He (Iblís) had knowledge, (but) since he had not religious love, he beheld in Adam nothing but a figure of clay.
گرچه دانی دقت علم ای امین ** زانت نگشاید دو دیده‌ی غیب‌بین
Though you may know (all) the minutiae of knowledge, O trustworthy (scholar), not by that (means) will your two (inward) eyes that discern the invisible be opened.
او نبیند غیر دستاری و ریش ** از معرف پرسد از بیش و کمیش
He (the scholar) sees nothing but a turban and beard: he asks the announcer (for information) about his (the stranger's) merits and demerits.
عارفا تو از معرف فارغی ** خود همی‌بینی که نور بازغی
(But) you, O knower (of God), have no need of the announcer: you see for yourself, for you are the rising light.
کار تقوی دارد و دین و صلاح ** که ازو باشد بدو عالم فلاح
The (only) thing that matters is fear of God and religion and piety, of which the result is happiness in both worlds.
کرد یک داماد صالح اختیار ** که بد او فخر همه خیل و تبار 265
He (the Khwája) chose a pious son-in-law who was the pride of the whole clan and stock.
پس زنان گفتند او را مال نیست ** مهتری و حسن و استقلال نیست
Then the women said, “He has no riches, he has neither nobility nor beauty nor independence.”
گفت آنها تابع زهدند و دین ** بی‌زر او گنجیست بر روی زمین
He replied, “Those things are secondary to asceticism and religion: he (the pious man), (though) without gold, is a treasure on the face of the earth.”
چون به جد تزویج دختر گشت فاش ** دست پیمان و نشانی و قماش
When it became known that the girl was going to be married in earnest, (as was proved by) the hand-promise, the tokens, and the wedding-outfit,
پس غلام خرد که اندر خانه بود ** گشت بیمار و ضعیف و زار زود
The little slave, who was in the house, immediately became ill and weak and poorly.
هم‌چو بیمار دقی او می‌گداخت ** علت او را طبیبی کم شناخت 270
He was wasting away like one suffering from phthisis: no physician could recognise his ailment.
عقل می‌گفتی که رنجش از دلست ** داروی تن در غم دل باطلست
Reason declared that the malady had its source in his heart (and that) medicine for the body is useless for heart-ache.
آن غلامک دم نزد از حال خویش ** کز چه می‌آید برو در سینه نیش
The little slave breathed no word of his (real) state and did not tell what was the cause of the pangs in his breast.
گفت خاتون را شبی شوهر که تو ** باز پرسش در خلا از حال او
One night the husband said to his wife, “Ask him privately what is the matter with him.
تو به جای مادری او را بود ** که غم خود پیش تو پیدا کند
You are in the place of a mother to him: maybe he will disclose his trouble to you.”
چونک خاتون در گوش این کلام ** روز دیگر رفت نزدیک غلام 275
When the mistress heard these words, next day she went to the slave.