معده طبلی‌خوار هم‌چون طبل کرد ** قسم هژده آدمی تنها بخورد 80
He made his voracious belly like a drum: he consumed singly the portion of eighteen persons.
وقت خفتن رفت و در حجره نشست ** پس کنیزک از غضب در را ببست
At bed-time he went and sat in his room; then the maid angrily shut the door.
از برون زنجیر در را در فکند ** که ازو بد خشمگین و دردمند
She put in (fastened) the door-chain from the outside, for she was angry with him and resentful.
گبر را در نیم‌شب یا صبحدم ** چون تقاضا آمد و درد شکم
At midnight or dawn, when the infidel felt an urgent need and stomach-ache,
از فراش خویش سوی در شتافت ** دست بر در چون نهاد او بسته یافت
He hastened from his bed towards the door, (but) laying his hand on the door he found it shut.
در گشادن حیله کرد آن حیله‌ساز ** نوع نوع و خود نشد آن بند باز 85
The cunning man employed various devices to open it, but the fastening did not give way.
شد تقاضا بر تقاضا خانه تنگ ** ماند او حیران و بی‌درمان و دنگ
The urgency increased, and the room was narrow: he remained in dismay and without remedy and dumbfounded.
حیله کرد او و به خواب اندر خزید ** خویشتن در خواب در ویرانه دید
He made shift and crept to sleep: in his slumber he dreamed that he was in a desolate place.
زانک ویرانه بد اندر خاطرش ** شد به خواب اندر همانجا منظرش
Since a desolate place was in his mind, his (inward) sight went thither in sleep.
خویش در ویرانه‌ی خالی چو دید ** او چنان محتاج اندر دم برید
Cum sese videret in loco vastato et vacuo, tanta necessitate coactus extemplo cacavit. [When he saw himself in an empty and desolate place, (being in) such need, he defecated in (that very) moment.]
گشت بیدار و بدید آن جامه خواب ** پر حدث دیوانه شد از اضطراب 90
Experrectus vidit stratum lecti in quo dormiverat sordibus plenum: pudore commotus insanire coepit. [He woke up and saw the bedclothes (in which he had slept) full of filth: he became crazy from (shame and) anguish.]
ز اندرون او برآمد صد خروش ** زین چنین رسواییی بی خاک‌پوش
E corde ejus ascendunt centum gemitus propter tale opprobrium pulvere non coopertum. [A hundred groans arose from his inward (heart) because of such a disgrace not covered (up) by dust.]
گفت خوابم بتر از بیداریم ** گه خورم این سو و آن سو می‌ریم
“Somnus meus,” inquit, “pejor quam vigilia mea; hic enim edo, illic caco.” [“My sleep,” he said, “(is) worse than my wakefulness; because I eat here and I defecate there.”]
He was crying, “Woe and alas! Woe and alas!” even as the unbeliever in the depths of the tomb,
منتظر که کی شود این شب به سر ** یا برآید در گشادن بانگ در
Waiting to see when this night would come to an end, that the noise of the door in opening might rise (to his ear),
تا گریزد او چو تیری از کمان ** تا نبیند هیچ کس او را چنان 95
In order to flee like an arrow from the bow, (for fear) lest any one should see him in such a condition.
قصه بسیارست کوته می‌کنم ** باز شد آن در رهید از درد و غم
The story is long: I will shorten it. The door opened: he was delivered from grief and pain.
در حجره گشادن مصطفی علیه‌السلام بر مهمان و خود را پنهان کردن تا او خیال گشاینده را نبیند و خجل شود و گستاخ بیرون رود
How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
مصطفی صبح آمد و در را گشاد ** صبح آن گمراه را او راه داد
At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
در گشاد و گشت پنهان مصطفی ** تا نگردد شرمسار آن مبتلا
Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
تا برون آید رود گستاخ او ** تا نبیند درگشا را پشت و رو
But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
یا نهان شد در پس چیزی و یا ** از ویش پوشید دامان خدا 100
Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel).
صبغة الله گاه پوشیده کند ** پرده‌ی بی‌چون بر آن ناظر تند
The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
تا نبیند خصم را پهلوی خویش ** قدرت یزدان از آن بیشست بیش
So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
مصطفی می‌دید احوال شبش ** لیک مانع بود فرمان ربش
Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
تا که پیش از خبط بگشاید رهی ** تا نیفتد زان فضیحت در چهی
From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
لیک حکمت بود و امر آسمان ** تا ببیند خویشتن را او چنان 105
(Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded).
بس عداوتها که آن یاری بود ** بس خرابیها که معماری بود
There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
جامه خواب پر حدث را یک فضول ** قاصدا آورد در پیش رسول
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
که چنین کردست مهمانت ببین ** خنده‌ای زد رحمةللعالمین
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
که بیار آن مطهره اینجا به پیش ** تا بشویم جمله را با دست خویش
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
هر کسی می‌جست کز بهر خدا ** جان ما و جسم ما قربان ترا 110
Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.
ما بشوییم این حدث را تو بهل ** کار دستست این نمط نه کار دل
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
ای لعمرک مر ترا حق عمر خواند ** پس خلیفه کرد و بر کرسی نشاند
O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
ما برای خدمت تو می‌زییم ** چون تو خدمت می‌کنی پس ما چه‌ایم
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
گفت آن دانم و لیک این ساعتیست ** که درین شستن بخویشم حکمتیست
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
منتظر بودند کین قول نبیست ** تا پدید آید که این اسرار چیست 115
They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.
او به جد می‌شست آن احداث را ** خاص ز امر حق نه تقلید و ریا
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
که دلش می‌گفت کین را تو بشو ** که درین جا هست حکمت تو بتو
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”
سبب رجوع کردن آن مهمان به خانه‌ی مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن ساعت که مصطفی نهالین ملوث او را به دست خود می‌شست و خجل شدن او و جامه چاک کردن و نوحه‌ی او بر خود و بر سعادت خود
The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.
کافرک را هیکلی بد یادگار ** یاوه دید آن را و گشت او بی‌قرار
The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
گفت آن حجره که شب جا داشتم ** هیکل آنجا بی‌خبر بگذاشتم
He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”
گر چه شرمین بود شرمش حرص برد ** حرص اژدرهاست نه چیزیست خرد 120
Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing.
از پی هیکل شتاب اندر دوید ** در وثاق مصطفی و آن را بدید
In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
کان یدالله آن حدث را هم به خود ** خوش همی‌شوید که دورش چشم بد
That Hand of God, cheerfully washing the filth by himself— far from him be the evil eye!
هیکلش از یاد رفت و شد پدید ** اندرو شوری گریبان را درید
The amulet vanished from his mind, and a great rapture arose in him: he tore his collar,
می‌زد او دو دست را بر رو و سر ** کله را می‌کوفت بر دیوار و در
Smiting his face and head with both hands, beating his pate against wall and door,
آنچنان که خون ز بینی و سرش ** شد روان و رحم کرد آن مهترش 125
In such a wise that blood poured from his nose and head, and the Prince (Mohammed) took pity on him.
نعره‌ها زد خلق جمع آمد برو ** گبر گویان ایهاالناس احذروا
He uttered shrieks, the people gathered round him: the infidel was crying, “O people, beware!”
می‌زد او بر سر کای بی‌عقل سر ** می‌زد او بر سینه کای بی‌نور بر
He smote his head, saying, “O head without understanding!” He smote his breast, saying, “O bosom without light!”
سجده می‌کرد او کای کل زمین ** شرمسارست از تو این جزو مهین
Prostrating himself, he cried, “O (thou who art) the whole earth, this despicable part is abashed on account of thee.
تو که کلی خاضع امر ویی ** من که جزوم ظالم و زشت و غوی
Thou, who art the whole, art submissive to His command; I, who am (but) a part, am unjust and wicked and misguided.