There was aforetime a man named Nasúh: he earned his livelihood by shampooing women.
بود مردی پیش ازین نامش نصوح ** بد ز دلاکی زن او را فتوح
His face resembled a female countenance: he was disguising his manliness.
بود روی او چو رخسار زنان ** مردی خود را همی‌کرد او نهان
He was a shampooer in the women's bath, and very active in (contriving) fraud and deceit.2230
او به حمام زنان دلاک بود ** در دغا و حیله بس چالاک بود
For (many) years he went on shampooing, and no one suspected the (real) nature and secret of his fondness (for that employment).
سالها می‌کرد دلاکی و کس ** بو نبرد از حال و سر آن هوس
(’Twas) because, (though) his voice and countenance were woman-like, yet his lust was at full strength and wide-awake.
زانک آواز و رخش زن‌وار بود ** لیک شهوت کامل و بیدار بود
He wore the chádar and snood and veil, (but he was) a man lustful and in the prime of youth.
چادر و سربند پوشیده و نقاب ** مرد شهوانی و در غره‌ی شباب
In this fashion that enamoured man was massaging and washing the daughters of emperors,
دختران خسروان را زین طریق ** خوش همی‌مالید و می‌شست آن عشیق
(And though) he often resolved on repentance and was turning his back (on sin), the miscreant carnal soul would always tear his repentance to pieces.2235
توبه‌ها می‌کرد و پا در می‌کشید ** نفس کافر توبه‌اش را می‌درید
That evil-doer (Nasúh) went to a gnostic and said, “Remember me in a prayer.”
رفت پیش عارفی آن زشت‌کار ** گفت ما را در دعایی یاد دار
The holy man knew his secret but, (acting) like the forbearance of God, he did not divulge it;
سر او دانست آن آزادمرد ** لیک چون حلم خدا پیدا نکرد