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.
هین مشو مغرور آن گلگونه‌اش ** نوش نیش‌آلوده‌ی او را مچش
Hark! Do not be deceived by her rouge, do not taste her sherbet which is mixed with poison!
صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج ** تا نیفتی چون فرج در صد حرج 320
Have patience (self-restraint), for patience is the key to joy, lest like Faraj you fall into a hundred (grievous) straits.
آشکارا دانه پنهان دام او ** خوش نماید ز اولت انعام او
Her (the World's) bait is visible, (but) her trap is hidden: at first (sight) her favours seem sweet to you.
در بیان آنک این غرور تنها آن هندو را نبود بلک هر آدمیی به چنین غرور مبتلاست در هر مرحله‌ای الا من عصم الله
Explaining that this self-delusion was not (peculiar) to that Hindú alone; on the contrary, every human being is afflicted with a similar self-delusion at every stage (of the journey), except those whom God has preserved.
چون بپیوستی بدان ای زینهار ** چند نالی در ندامت زار زار
Since you are attached to those (worldly goods), oh, beware! How often (afterwards) will you sob piteously in repentance!
نام میری و وزیری و شهی ** در نهانش مرگ و درد و جان‌دهی
The names “princehood,” “vizierate,” and “kingship” (are enticing, but) hidden beneath them is death and pain and giving up the ghost.
بنده باش و بر زمین رو چون سمند ** چون جنازه نه که بر گردن برند
Be a slave (of God) and walk on the earth like a horse (under the rider), not like a bier which is carried on the necks (of the bearers).
جمله را حمال خود خواهد کفور ** چون سوار مرده آرندش به گور 325
The ungrateful (worldly) man wishes all people to carry him: they bring him, like a dead rider, to the grave.
بر جنازه هر که را بینی به خواب ** فارس منصب شود عالی رکاب
If you dream of any one (being carried) on a bier, he will become a high-stirruped rider of (will rise to high eminence in) office.
زانک آن تابوت بر خلقست بار ** بار بر خلقان فکندند این کبار
Inasmuch as the coffin is a burden on the people (who carry it), these grandees have laid the burden (of their rank and riches) on (the necks of) the people (whom they oppress).
بار خود بر کس منه بر خویش نه ** سروری را کم طلب درویش به
Do not lay your burden on any one, lay it on yourself: do not seek eminence, ’tis best to be poor.
مرکب اعناق مردم را مپا ** تا نیاید نقرست اندر دو پا
Do not be perpetually riding on the necks of people, lest gout attack your feet.
مرکبی را که آخرش تو ده دهی ** که به شهری مانی و ویران‌دهی 330
The vehicle which you will curse in the end, saying, “Thou resemblest a (flourishing) city, but thou art (really) a ruined village”—