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.
پس سرش را شانه می‌کرد آن ستی ** با دو صد مهر و دلال و آشتی
Then the dame combed his head very fondly with many endearments and signs of friendliness.
آنچنان که مادران مهربان ** نرم کردش تا در آمد در بیان
In the fashion of fond mothers she soothed him until he began to explain,
که مرا اومید از تو این نبود ** که دهی دختر به بیگانه‌ی عنود
Saying, “I did not expect this from you—that you would give your daughter to a cross-grained stranger.
خواجه‌زاده‌ی ما و ما خسته‌جگر ** حیف نبود که رود جای دگر
She is my master's child, and I am heart-sick: is it not a shame that she should go elsewhere (as a bride)?”
خواست آن خاتون ز خشمی که آمدش ** که زند وز بام زیر اندازدش 280
The mistress, (impelled) by the anger that rose in her, was about to strike him and hurl him down from the roof,
کو که باشد هندوی مادرغری ** که طمع دارد به خواجه دختری
Saying (to herself), “Who is he, a whoreson Hindú, that he should desire a Khwája's daughter?”
گفت صبر اولی بود خود را گرفت ** گفت با خواجه که بشنو این شگفت
(But) she said, “Patience is best,” and restrained herself; (afterwards) she said to the Khwája, “Listen to this wonderful thing!
این چنین گراء کی خاین بود ** ما گمان برده که هست او معتمد
Such a wretched slave a traitor! (And) we thought he could be trusted!”
صبر فرمودن خواجه مادر دختر را کی غلام را زجر مکن من او را بی‌زجر ازین طمع باز آرم کی نه سیخ سوزد نه کباب خام ماند
How the Khwája bade the girl's mother be patient, saying, “Don't scold the slave: without scolding him I will make him abandon this desire in such a way that neither will the spit be burnt nor the meat be left uncooked.
گفت خواجه صبر کن با او بگو ** که ازو ببریم و بدهیمش به تو
“Have patience,” said the Khwája: “tell him, ‘We will break off (the match) with him (the prospective bridegroom) and give her to you,’
تا مگر این از دلش بیرون کنم ** تو تماشا کن که دفعش چون کنم 285
That perchance I may banish this (hope) from his mind: watch and see how I will thwart him.
تو دلش خوش کن بگو می‌دان درست ** که حقیقت دختر ما جفت تست
Gladden his heart and say, ‘Know for sure that our daughter is really your (destined) spouse.
ما ندانستیم ای خوش مشتری ** چونک دانستیم تو اولیتری
O goodly wooer, we didn't know (that you desired her): (now), since we know (that), you are the most worthy.
آتش ما هم درین کانون ما ** لیلی آن ما و تو مجنون ما
Our fire is in our own hearth: Laylá (the bride) is ours, and you are our Majnún (bridegroom).’
تا خیال و فکر خوش بر وی زند ** فکر شیرین مرد را فربه کند
(Tell him this) in order that happy fancies and thoughts may affect him: sweet thoughts make a man fat.
جانور فربه شود لیک از علف ** آدمی فربه ز عزست و شرف 290
An animal is made fat, but (only) by fodder; man is fattened by honour and eminence.
آدمی فربه شود از راه گوش ** جانور فربه شود از حلق و نوش
Man is fattened through his ear; an animal is fattened through its gullet and by eating and drinking.”
گفت آن خاتون ازین ننگ مهین ** خود دهانم کی بجنبد اندرین
The mistress said, “Such a vile disgrace! How indeed shall my lips move in this matter?
این چنین ژاژی چه خایم بهر او ** گو بمیر آن خاین ابلیس‌خو
Why should I talk drivel like this for his sake? Let the devilish traitor die!”
گفت خواجه نی مترس و دم دهش ** تا رود علت ازو زین لطف خوش
“Nay,” replied the Khwája, “have no fear, but wheedle him, in order that his illness may depart from him by virtue of this sweet flattery.
دفع او را دلبرا بر من نویس ** هل که صحت یابد آن باریک‌ریس 295
Charge me with the task of thwarting him, O beloved, and let that spinner of fine yarns regain his health.”
چون بگفت آن خسته را خاتون چنین ** می‌نگنجید از تبختر بر زمین
When the mistress had spoken in this strain to the invalid, on account of his swagger there was no room for him on the earth.
زفت گشت و فربه و سرخ و شکفت ** چون گل سرخ هزاران شکر گفت
He grew stout and fat and red(-cheeked), and bloomed like a red rose and gave a thousand thanks.
که گهی می‌گفت ای خاتون من ** که مبادا باشد این دستان و فن
Now and again he would say, “O my mistress, (I am afraid) lest this may be a deception and trick.”
خواجه جمعیت بکرد و دعوتی ** که همی‌سازم فرج را وصلتی
The Khwája gave a party and a feast, saying (to his guests), “I am making a match for Faraj,”
تا جماعت عشوه می‌دادند و گان ** که ای فرج بادت مبارک اتصال 300
So that the company chaffed and quizzed (him) and said, “May your marriage be blessed, O Faraj!”
تا یقین‌تر شد فرج را آن سخن ** علت از وی رفت کل از بیخ و بن
With the result that the promise seemed to Faraj more sure, and his illness vanished entirely and radically.
بعد از آن اندر شب گردک به فن ** امردی را بست حنی هم‌چو زن
Afterwards, on the wedding-night, he (the Khwája) artfully dyed (the hands and feet of) a youth with henna, like (those of) a woman.
پر نگارش کرد ساعد چون عروس ** پس نمودش ماکیان دادش خروس
He decorated his fore-arms like (those of) a bride: then he displayed to him (Faraj) a hen, but (actually) he gave him a cock;
مقنعه و حله‌ی عروسان نکو ** کنگ امرد را بپوشانید او
(For) he dressed the sturdy youth in the veil and robes of beautiful brides.
شمع را هنگام خلوت زود کشت ** ماند هندو با چنان کنگ درشت 305
Quo tempore mos est sponsam cum conjuge in thalamo relinquere, (paterfamilias) candelam statim exstinxit: manebat Indus coram tali adulescente robusto et aspero. [He (the Khwája) immediately extinguished the candle (at) the time of (conjugal) privacy: the Hindu was left (alone) with such a rough and strong-bodied (young) man.]
هندوک فریاد می‌کرد و فغان ** از برون نشنید کس از دف‌زنان
Indulus clamorem et ululatum tollebat, (sed) tympanistarum causa nemo extra (thalamum) audiebat. [The little Hindú was screaming and crying out, (but) no one heard from without (the bedchamber) because of (the noise of) the tambourine-players.]
ضرب دف و کف و نعره‌ی مرد و زن ** کرد پنهان نعره‌ی آن نعره‌زن
Tympana pulsata, manus complosae, virorum et feminarum clamores clamorem illius (pueri) clamitantis celabant. [The pounding of tambourines, (clapping of) hands, and the loud shouts of men and women masked the screams of that screamer.]
تا به روز آن هندوک را می‌فشارد ** چون بود در پیش سگ انبان آرد
(Adulescens) istum Indulum comprimebat usque ad diluculum: coram cane quid fiat sacco farinae?) [He (the youth) squeezed the little Hindú until the (break of) day: how is a bag of flour (to remain untorn) before a (hungry) dog?]
زود آوردند طاس و بوغ زفت ** رسم دامادان فرج حمام رفت
At morning they brought the wash-basin and a big package (of clothes, etc.), and according to the custom of bridegrooms Faraj went to the bath.
رفت در حمام او رنجور جان ** کون دریده هم‌چو دلق تونیان 310
He went to the bath, sorely troubled in soul, laceratus culum tanquam panni fornacatorum (bath-stokers). [He went to the bath, sorely troubled in soul, (his) anus torn like the rags of bath-stokers.]
آمد از حمام در گردک فسوس ** پیش او بنشست دختر چون عروس
From the bath he returned to the bridal chamber, a laughing-stock (to all): beside him sat the (Khwája's) daughter (dressed) like a bride.
مادرش آنجا نشسته پاسبان ** که نباید کو کند روز امتحان
Her mother (too) was sitting there to keep watch, lest he should make any attempt in the daytime.
ساعتی در وی نظر کرد از عناد ** آنگهان با هر دو دستش ده بداد
He eyed her sulkily for awhile: then with both hands (spread) he gave her the ten (fingers).
گفت کس را خود مبادا اتصال ** با چو تو ناخوش عروس بدفعال
“May no one,” he exclaimed, “live in wedlock with a nasty evil-doing bride like thee!
روز رویت روی خاتونان تر ** کیر زشتت شب بتر از کیر خر 315
By day thy face is the face of fresh young ladies; noctu penis tuus turpis pejor est quam veretrum asini.” [By day thy face is the face of fresh young ladies; by night, your ugly penis (is) worse than the penis of an ass.”]
هم‌چنان جمله نعیم این جهان ** بس خوشست از دور پیش از امتحان
Even so all the pleasures of this world are very delightful (when viewed) from a distance before the (actual) test.
می‌نماید در نظر از دور آب ** چون روی نزدیک باشد آن سراب
Seen from a distance they appear (like refreshing) water, (but) when you approach (them) they are a mirage.
گنده پیرست او و از بس چاپلوس ** خویش را جلوه کند چون نو عروس
She (the World) is a stinking hag, though by reason of her great blandishments she displays herself like a young bride.