رو سگ کهف خداوندیش باش ** تا رهاند زین تغارت اصطفاش
Go, be the Cave-dog of His Lordship in order that His election (of you) may deliver you from this trough.
چونک دزدیهای بی‌رحمانه گفت ** کی کنند آن درزیان اندر نهفت 1665
When he (the story-teller) related the pitiless thefts which those tailors commit in secret,
اندر آن هنگامه ترکی از خطا ** سخت طیره شد ز کشف آن غطا
A Turk from Khitá (who was) amongst the crowd (audience) was exceedingly annoyed by that exposure.
شب چو روز رستخیز آن رازها ** کشف می‌کرد از پی اهل نهی
At night-time he (the story-teller) was exposing those secrets (of the tailors) for the benefit of the intelligent (listeners), as (plainly as secrets shall be exposed) on the Day of Resurrection.
هر کجا آیی تو در جنگی فراز ** بینی آنجا دو عدو در کشف راز
Wherever you come to close quarters with a wrangle, you will see there two enemies (engaged) in exposing (each other's) secret.
آن زمان را محشر مذکور دان ** وان گلوی رازگو را صور دان
Know that that hour (of quarrel) is (like) the (hour of the) Last Judgement mentioned (in the Qur’án), and know that the throat which tells the secret is (like) the trumpet (of Isráfíl);
که خدا اسباب خشمی ساختست ** وآن فضایح را بکوی انداختست 1670
For God hath provided the motives of anger and (thus) hath cause those shameful things to be divulged.
بس که غدر درزیان را ذکر کرد ** حیف آمد ترک را و خشم و درد
When he (the story-teller) had related many instances of the perfidy of tailors, the Turk became annoyed and angry and aggrieved,
گفت ای قصاص در شهر شما ** کیست استاتر درین مکر و دغا
And said, ‘O story-teller, in your city who is the greatest expert in this (kind of) deceit and fraud?’
دعوی کردن ترک و گرو بستن او کی درزی از من چیزی نتواند بردن
[How the Turk boasted and wagered that the tailor would not be able to steal anything from him.]
And if he cannot rob (me) I shall receive a horse from you (as an equivalent) for the first stake.’
ترک را آن شب نبرد از غصه خواب ** با خیال دزد می‌کرد او حراب
Because of his anxiety sleep did not overcome the Turk (all) that night: he was fighting with the phantom of the thief.
بامدادان اطلسی زد در بغل ** شد به بازار و دکان آن دغل
In the morning he put a piece of satin under his arm, went to the bazaar, and (entered) the shop of that cunning rogue.
پس سلامش کرد گرم و اوستاد ** جست از جا لب به ترحیبش گشاد
Then he saluted him warmly, and the master(-tailor) sprang up from his seat and opened his lips to bid him welcome.
گرم پرسیدش ز حد ترک بیش ** تا فکند اندر دل او مهر خویش
He inquired (after his health, etc.) with a cordiality exceeding (even) that of the Turk, so that he planted in his (the Turk's) heart (feelings of) affection for him.
چون بدید از وی نوای بلبلی ** پیشش افکند اطلس استنبلی 1685
When he (the Turk) heard from him a song like the nightingale's, he threw down before him the piece of Stamboul satin,
که ببر این را قبای روز جنگ ** زیر نافم واسع و بالاش تنگ
Saying, ‘Cut this into a coat for the day of battle: (let it be) wide below my navel and tight above it—
تنگ بالا بهر جسم‌آرای را ** زیر واسع تا نگیرد پای را
Tight above, to show off my body (figure); wide below, so as not to hamper my legs.’
گفت صد خدمت کنم ای ذو وداد ** در قبولش دست بر دیده نهاد
He replied, ‘O kindly man, I will do (you) a hundred services,’ and in (token of) accepting it (the commission) he laid his hand upon his eye.
پس بپیمود و بدید او روی کار ** بعد از آن بگشاد لب را در فشار
Then he measured (the satin) and inspected the working surface (of it) and, after that, opened his lips in idle chat.
از حکایتهای میران دگر ** وز کرمها و عطاء آن نفر 1690
Of stories about other Amírs and of the bounties and gifts of those persons
وز بخیلان و ز تحشیراتشان ** از برای خنده هم داد او نشان
And about the misers and their (mean) economies—(of all this) he gave a sample for the purpose of (exciting) laughter.
هم‌چو آتش کرد مقراضی برون ** می‌برید و لب پر افسانه و فسون
In a flash he whipped out a pair of scissors and went on cutting while his lips were full of tales and beguiling talk.
مضاحک گفتن درزی و ترک را از قوت خنده بسته شدن دو چشم تنگ او و فرصت یافتن درزی
How the tailor told laughable jests, and how the narrow eyes of the Turk were closed by the violence of his laughter, and how the tailor found an opportunity (to steal).
ترک خندیدن گرفت از داستان ** چشم تنگش گشت بسته آن زمان
The Turk began to laugh at the stories, and at that moment his narrow eyes closed.
پاره‌ای دزدید و کردش زیر ران ** از جز حق از همه احیا نهان
He (the tailor) filched a shred (of satin) and put it under his thigh, (where it was) hidden from all living beings except God.
حق همی‌دید آن ولی ستارخوست ** لیک چون از حد بری غماز اوست 1695
God saw it, but He is disposed to cover up (sins); yet when you carry (them) beyond bounds He is a tell-tale.
ترک را از لذت افسانه‌اش ** رفت از دل دعوی پیشانه‌اش
From his delight in his (the tailor's) anecdotes the Turk's former boast went out of his head.
اطلس چه دعوی چه رهن چه ** ترک سرمستست در لاغ اچی
What satin? What boast? What wager? The Turk is intoxicated with the jokes of the pasha.
لابه کردش ترک کز بهر خدا ** لاغ می‌گو که مرا شد مغتذا
The Turk implored him, crying, ‘For God's sake go on telling jokes, for they are meat to me.’
گفت لاغی خندمینی آن دغا ** که فتاد از قهقهه او بر قفا
(Then) the rascal told such a ridiculous story that he (the Turk) fell on his back in an explosion of laughter.
پاره‌ای اطلس سبک بر نیفه زد ** ترک غافل خوش مضاحک می‌مزد 1700
He (the tailor) swiftly clapped a shred of satin to the hem of his under-breeches, while the Turk was paying no attention and greedily sucking in (absorbing) the jests.
هم‌چنین بار سوم ترک خطا ** گفت لاغی گوی از بهر خدا
Still (continuing his entreaties), the Turk of Khitá said for the third time, ‘Tell me a joke for God's sake!’
گفت لاغی خندمین‌تر زان دو بار ** کرد او این ترک را کلی شکار
He (the tailor) told a story more laughable than (those which he had related) on the two previous occasions, and made this Turk entirely his prey.
چشم بسته عقل جسته مولهه ** مست ترک مدعی از قهقهه
His eyes shut, his reason flown, bewildered, the boastful Turk was intoxicated with guffaws.
پس سوم بار از قبا دزدید شاخ ** که ز خنده‌ش یافت میدان فراخ
Then for the third time he (the tailor) filched a strip from the coat (which he was cutting), since the Turk's laughter gave him ample scope (for his dexterity).
چون چهارم بار آن ترک خطا ** لاغ از آن استا همی‌کرد اقتضا 1705
When for the fourth time the Turk of Khitá was demanding a jest from the master(-tailor),
رحم آمد بر وی آن استاد را ** کرد در باقی فن و بیداد را
The master took pity on him and put aside (abandoned) artfulness and injustice.
گفت مولع گشت این مفتون درین ** بی‌خبر کین چه خسارست و غبین
He said (to himself), ‘This infatuated man has a great desire for these (facetious tales), not knowing what a loss and swindle they are (for him).’
بوسه‌افشان کرد بر استاد او ** که بمن بهر خدا افسانه گو
(Nevertheless) he (the Turk) showered kisses on (the face and eyes of) the master, crying, ‘For God's sake tell me a story!’
ای فسانه گشته و محو از وجود ** چند افسانه بخواهی آزمود
O thou who hast become a story and (art) dead to (useful) existence, how long wilt thou wish to make trial of stories?
خندمین‌تر از تو هیچ افسانه نیست ** بر لب گور خراب خویش ایست 1710
No story is more laughable than thou (thyself): stand (and meditate) on the edge of thine own ruinous grave!
ای فرو رفته به گور جهل و شک ** چند جویی لاغ و دستان فلک
O thou who hast gone down into the grave of ignorance and doubt, how long wilt thou seek (to hear) the jests and tales of Time?
تا بکی نوشی تو عشوه‌ی این جهان ** که نه عقلت ماند بر قانون نه جان
How long wilt thou listen to the blandishments of this world that leave neither thy mind underanged nor thy spirit?
لاغ این چرخ ندیم کرد و مرد ** آب روی صد هزاران چون تو برد
The jests of Time, this mean and petty boon-companion, have robbed of honour a hundred thousand like thee.