Intelligence and culture are characteristic of townsmen; hospitality and entertainment (of guests) are characteristic of tent-dwellers.
الضیافة للغریب والقری ** اودع الرحمن فی اهل القری
The Merciful (God) has implanted hospitality to strangers and entertainment (of guests) in the villagers (countryfolk).
کل یوم فی القری ضیف حدیث ** ما له غیر الاله من مغیث 2400
Every day in the villages (countryside) there is a new guest who has none to help him except God.
کل لیل فی القری وفد جدید ** ما لهم ثم سوی الله محید
Every night in the villages (countryside) are new-comers who have no refuge there save God.
تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
صبر گیریم امشب از خور تن زنیم ** بهر فردا لوت را پنهان کنیم 2405
To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.”
گفت مومن امشب این خورده شود ** صبر را بنهیم تا فردا بود
The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
پس بدو گفتند زین حکمت‌گری ** قصد تو آن است تا تنها خوری
Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
گفت ای یاران نه که ما سه تنیم ** چون خلاف افتاد تا قسمت کنیم
“O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
هرکه خواهد قسم خود بر جان زند ** هرکه خواهد قسم خود پنهان کند
Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
آن دو گفتندش ز قسمت در گذر ** گوش کن قسام فی‌النار از خبر 2410
The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).”
گفت قسام آن بود کو خویش را ** کرد قسمت بر هوا و بر خدا
He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”
ملک حق و جمله قسم اوستی ** قسم دیگر را دهی دوگوستی
Thou art God's property and His share entirely: (if) thou givest the share (of God) to another, thou art a dualist.
این اسد غالب شدی هم بر سگان ** گر نبودی نوبت آن بدرگان
This lion would have prevailed over the curs, if it had not been the turn of those evil-natured ones (to prevail).
قصدشان آن کان مسلمان غم خورد ** شب برو در بی‌نوایی بگذرد
’Twas their intention that the Moslem should suffer pain and pass the night in want of food.
بود مغلوب او به تسلیم و رضا ** گفت سمعا طاعة اصحابنا 2415
He was overpowered: he said, with resignation and acquiescence, “My friends, I hear and obey.”
پس بخفتند آن شب و برخاستند ** بامدادان خویش را آراستند
So they slept (all) that night, and in the morning they rose and dressed themselves,
روی شستند و دهان و هر یکی ** داشت اندر ورد راه و مسلکی
And washed their faces and mouths; and each one had a (different) method and practice in his devotions.
یک زمانی هر کسی آورد رو ** سوی ورد خویش از حق فضل‌جو
For a while each one applied himself to his devotions, seeking favour from God.
مومن و ترسا جهود و گبر و مغ ** جمله را رو سوی آن سلطان الغ
True believer and Christian, Jew and Guebre and Magian— the faces of them all are (turned) towards that mighty Sultan.
بلک سنگ و خاک و کوه و آب را ** هست واگشت نهانی با خدا 2420
Nay, stone and earth and mountain and water have their invisible recourse to God.
این سخن پایان ندارد هر سه یار ** رو به هم کردند آن دم یاروار
This topic is infinite. At that time the three companions looked on one another friendlily,
آن یکی گفتا که هر یک خواب خویش ** آنچ دید او دوش گو آور به پیش
And one (of them) said, “Let each (of us) relate what he dreamed last night.
هرکه خوابش بهتر این را او خورد ** قسم هر مفضول را افضل برد
Let him who had the best dream eat this (sweetmeat): let the most excellent carry off the share of every one that is excelled (by him).”
آنک اندر عقل بالاتر رود ** خوردن او خوردن جمله بود
He who mounts highest in (the scale of) reason—his eating is (equivalent to) the eating of all (his inferiors).
فوق آمد جان پر انوار او ** باقیان را بس بود تیمار او 2425
His luminous spirit is supreme: ’tis enough for the rest of them to tend (cherish) him.
عاقلان را چون بقا آمد ابد ** پس به معنی این جهان باقی بود
Since those endowed with (perfect) reason endure for ever, in reality this world is enduring for ever.