“Yes,” said the husband, “stop up the mouth of the jug. Take care, for this is a gift that will bring us profit.2720
مرد گفت آری سبو را سر ببند ** هین که این هدیه ست ما را سودمند
Sew this jug in felt, that the King may break his fast with our gift,
در نمد در دوز تو این کوزه را ** تا گشاید شه به هدیه روزه را
For there is no (water) like this in all the world: it is naught but pure wine and the source of pleasures (to the taste).”
کاین چنین اندر همه آفاق نیست ** جز رحیق و مایه‌‌ی اذواق نیست
(This he said) because they (people like him) are always full of infirmity and half-blind from (drinking) bitter and briny waters.
ز آن که ایشان ز آبهای تلخ و شور ** دایما پر علت‌‌اند و نیم کور
The bird whose dwelling-place is the briny water, how should it know where to find in it the clear (and sweet) water?
مرغ کآب شور باشد مسکنش ** او چه داند جای آب روشنش
O thou whose abode is in the briny spring, how shouldst thou know the Shatt and the Jayhún and the Euphrates?2725
ای که اندر چشمه‌ی شورست جان ** تو چه دانی شط و جیحون و فرات
O thou who hast not escaped from this fleeting caravanseray (the material world), how shouldst thou know (the meaning of) “self-extinction” and (mystical) “intoxication” and “expansion”?
ای تو نارسته از این فانی رباط ** تو چه دانی محو و سکر و انبساط
And if thou knowest, ’tis (by rote, like the knowledge) handed down to thee from father and grandfather: to thee these names are like abjad.
ور بدانی نقلت از اب وز جد است ** پیش تو این نامها چون ابجد است
How plain and evident to all children are abjad and hawwaz, and (yet) the real meaning is far away (hard to reach).
ابجد و هوز چه فاش است و پدید ** بر همه طفلان و معنی بس بعید
Then the Arab man took up the jug and set out to journey, carrying it along (with him) day and night.
پس سبو برداشت آن مرد عرب ** در سفر شد می‌‌کشیدش روز و شب