Worthless folk humiliate every story-teller: if his words are lofty, they make them low;1240
هر محدث را خسان باذل کنند ** حرفش ار عالی بود نازل کنند
For the tale is (lofty or low) in proportion to (the understanding of) the hearer: the tailor cuts the coat according to the Khwája's (customer's) figure.
زانک قدر مستمع آید نبا ** بر قد خواجه برد درزی قبا
[Description of the old woman.]
صفت آن عجوز
Since the audience is not free from such reproach, there is no means of avoiding low and undignified talk.
چونک مجلس بی چنین پیغاره نیست ** از حدیث پست نازل چاره نیست
Hark, redeem this topic (of discourse) from pawn: return to the tale of the old woman.
واستان هین این سخن را از گرو ** سوی افسانه‌ی عجوزه باز رو
When he (any one) has become advanced in years and is not a man (adept) in this Way, bestow the name of “aged crone” upon him.
چون مسن گشت و درین ره نیست مرد ** تو بنه نامش عجوز سال‌خورد
He has neither (any spiritual) capital and basis, nor is he capable of receiving (such a) stock-in-trade.1245
نه مرورا راس مال و پایه‌ای ** نه پذیرای قبول مایه‌ای
He is neither a giver nor a receiver of (spiritual) delight; in him there is neither reality nor (the power of) absorbing reality.
نه دهنده نی پذیرنده‌ی خوشی ** نه درو معنی و نه معنی‌کشی
(He has) neither tongue nor ear nor understanding and insight nor consciousness nor unconsciousness nor reflections;
نه زبان نه گوش نه عقل و بصر ** نه هش و نه بیهشی و نه فکر
Neither humble supplication nor any beauty (with which) to show pride: his (whole interior), coat on coat, is stinking, like an onion.
نه نیاز و نه جمالی بهر ناز ** تو بتویش گنده مانند پیاز
He has not traversed any path, nor (has he) the foot for (any power to traverse) the path: that shameless one has neither (inward) glow nor burning (passion) and sighs.
نه رهی ببریده او نه پای راه ** نه تبش آن قحبه را نه سوز و آه
Story of the dervish to whom, whenever he begged anything from a certain house, he (the owner) used to say, “It is not (to be had here).”
قصه‌ی درویشی کی از آن خانه هرچه می‌خواست می‌گفت نیست