Hear what has interfered (hindered my exposition) at the present time: methinks the hearer's mind has wandered elsewhere.
این زمان بشنو چه مانع شد مگر ** مستمع را رفت دل جای دگر
His thoughts have turned to the Súfí guest: he is sunk up to the neck (wholly absorbed) in that business.
خاطرش شد سوی صوفی قنق ** اندر آن سودا فرو شد تا عنق
(Therefore) it behoves me to go back from this discourse to that story in order to describe what happened (to him).
لازم آمد باز رفتن زین مقال ** سوی آن افسانه بهر وصف حال
O dear friend, do not fancy the Súfí is the (external) form (which you behold): how long, like children, (will you be content) with walnuts and raisins?
صوفی آن صورت مپندار ای عزیز ** همچو طفلان تا کی از جوز و مویز
Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;200
جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر ** گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر
And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).
ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق ** بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق
Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.
بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را ** لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را
.
.
When at last (the meditation of) that circle of Súfís who were seeking (spiritual) profit came to an end (culminated) in ecstasy and enthusiasm,
حلقه‌ای آن صوفیان مستفید ** چون که در وجد و طرب آخر رسید
They brought dishes of food for the guest, and he then bethought him of his beast.
خوان بیاوردند بهر میهمان ** از بهیمه یاد آورد آن زمان
He said to the famulus (the servant of the Súfís), “Go into the stable and make the straw and barley all right for the animal.”205
گفت خادم را که در آخر برو ** راست کن بهر بهیمه کاه و جو