Thereupon the maid hid all the apparatus of iniquity and came forward and opened the door.
پس کنیزک جمله آلات فساد ** کرد پنهان پیش شد در را گشاد
She made her face sour and her eyes full of moisture (tears) and rubbed her lips (against each other), meaning to say, “I am fasting.”
رو ترش کرد و دو دیده پر ز نم ** لب فرو مالید یعنی صایمم
In her hand was a soft broom, as though to say, “I was sweeping the room in order to clean it.”
در کف او نرمه جاروبی که من ** خانه را می‌روفتم بهر عطن
When, with the broom (in her hand), she opened the door, the mistress said under her breath, “O crafty one,
چونک باع جاروب در را وا گشاد ** گفت خاتون زیر لب کای اوستاد
You have made your face sour and (taken) a broom in your hand; what is (the meaning of) the ass having turned away from his fodder?1355
رو ترش کردی و جاروبی به کف ** چیست آن خر برگسسته از علف
Re semiconfecta, iratus, agitans veretrum: quia te exspectat ideo (sunt) duo oculi ejus ad januam (conversi).” [Half-finished and angry, (its) penis (was still) moving: its (the ass’s) two eyes (were turned) toward the door in expectation of you.”]
نیم کاره و خشمگین جنبان ذکر ** ز انتظار تو دو چشمش سوی در
This she said under her breath and concealed (her thought) from the maid: at that moment she treated her, like innocent persons, honourably.
زیر لب گفت این نهان کرد از کنیز ** داشتش آن دم چو بی‌جرمان عزیز
Afterwards she said to her, “Put the chádar on your head, go and take a message from me to such and such a house.
بعد از آن گفتش که چادر نه به سر ** رو فلان خانه ز من پیغام بر
Say so-and-so and do so-and-so.” I abridge the talk of the women.
این چنین گو وین چنین کن وآنچنان ** مختصر کردم من افسانه‌ی زنان
Take the gist of what is to the purpose. When the discreet old woman had sent her (the maid) away,1360
آنچ مقصودست مغز آن بگیر ** چون براهش کرد آن زال ستیر