Rumi's Masnavi - He has a white body, but a black heart: take (him), and give (me) in exchange that one whose body is black but whose heart is illumined.”

He has a white body, but a black heart: take (him), and give (me) in exchange that one whose body is black but whose heart is illumined.”

تن سپید و دل سیاهستش بگیر ** در عوض ده تن سیاه و دل منیر

Then the chieftain (Abú Bakr) sent (a messenger) to fetch him: in sooth that slave was exceedingly comely,

پس فرستاد و بیاورد آن همام ** بود الحق سخت زیبا آن غلام

So that the Jew was dumbfounded: at once his stony heart inclined (towards him). 1030

آنچنان که ماند حیران آن جهود ** آن دل چون سنگش از جا رفت زود

This is what happens to form-worshippers: their stone is (made) waxen by a (beauteous) form.

حالت صورت‌پرستان این بود ** سنگشان از صورتی مومین بود

(Then) again he wrangled and would not be satisfied, saying, “Without any evasion, (thou must) give more than this.”

باز کرد استیزه و راضی نشد ** که برین افزون بده بی‌هیچ بد

He offered him in addition a nisáb (two hundred dirhems) of silver, so that the Jew's cupidity was satisfied.

یک نصاب نقره هم بر وی فزود ** تا که راضی گشت حرص آن جهود

How the Jew laughed and imagined that the Siddíq had been swindled in this bargain.

خندیدن جهود و پنداشتن کی صدیق مغبونست درین عقد

The stony-hearted Jew guffawed jeeringly and mockingly in malice and spite.

قهقهه زد آن جهود سنگ‌دل ** از سر افسوس و طنز و غش و غل

The Siddíq said to him, “Why this laughter?” In reply to the question he laughed more loudly, 1035

گفت صدیقش که این خنده چه بود ** در جواب پرسش او خنده فزود

And said, “Had it not been for the (extraordinary) earnestness and ardour shown by thee in the purchase of this black slave,

گفت اگر جدت نبودی و غرام ** در خریداری این اسود غلام

I would not have wrangled excitedly: indeed I would have sold him for a tenth of this (sum),

من ز استیزه نمی‌جوشیدمی ** خود به عشر اینش بفروشیدمی