- He said, “I wish to marry a woman in this street: who is suitable for one like me?”
- گفت میخواهم در این کوچه زنی ** کیست لایق از برای چون منی
- “There are three kinds of women in the world,” said he: “two of those are a sorrow, and one is the soul's treasure. 2405
- گفت سه گونه زناند اندر جهان ** آن دو رنج و این یکی گنج روان
- The first, when you marry her, is wholly yours; and the second is half yours and half separate (from you);
- آن یکی را چون بخواهی کل تراست ** و آن دگر نیمی ترا نیمی جداست
- And the third, know she is not yours at all. You have heard this. Away (with you)!—I start in a trice—
- و آن سوم هیچ او ترا نبود بدان ** این شنودی دور شو رفتم روان
- Lest my horse let fly a kick at you, so that you fall and never rise up (again).”
- تا ترا اسبم نپراند لگد ** که بیفتی بر نخیزی تا ابد
- The Shaykh rode off amongst the children, (but) the young man shouted to him once more,
- شیخ راند اندر میان کودکان ** بانگ زد بار دگر او را جوان
- “Come, prithee declare the exposition of this. Thou hast said that these women are of three kinds: pick (them) out.” 2410
- که بیا آخر بگو تفسیر این ** این زنان سه نوع گفتی بر گزین
- He rode towards him and said to him, “The virgin of your choice will be wholly yours, and you will gain freedom from sorrow;
- راند سوی او و گفتش بکر خاص ** کل ترا باشد ز غم یابی خلاص
- And she that is half yours is the (childless) widow; and she that is nothing (to you) is the married woman with a child:
- و انکه نیمی آن تو بیوه بود ** و انکه هیچست آن عیال با ولد
- When she has a child by her first husband, her love and whole heart will go to that quarter.
- چون ز شوی اولش کودک بود ** مهر و کل خاطرش آن سو رود