Rumi's Masnavi - The old woman took the mirror (and held it) before her face, that she might beautify her cheeks and face and mouth.

The old woman took the mirror (and held it) before her face, that she might beautify her cheeks and face and mouth.

پیش رو آیینه بگرفت آن عجوز ** تا بیاراید رخ و رخسار و پوز

She rubbed (them) gleefully (with) rouge several times, (but) the creases of her face did not become more concealed, 1270

چند گلگونه بمالید از بطر ** سفره‌ی رویش نشد پوشیده‌تر

(So) that filthy (hag) was cutting out portions of the Holy Book and sticking them on her face,

عشرهای مصحف از جا می‌برید ** می‌بچفسانید بر رو آن پلید

In order that the creases of her face might be hidden, and that she might become the bezel in the ring of fair (women).

تا که سفره‌ی روی او پنهان شود ** تا نگین حلقه‌ی خوبان شود

She was putting (these) bits of the Book all over her face, (but) they always dropped off when she put on her chádar (veil);

عشرها بر روی هر جا می‌نهاد ** چونک بر می‌بست چادر می‌فتاد

Then she would stick them on again with spittle on all sides of her face,

باز او آن عشرها را با خدو ** می‌بچفسانید بر اطراف رو

And once more that bezel (paragon of beauty) would arrange her veil, and (again) the bits of the Book would fall from her face to the ground. 1275

باز چادر راست کردی آن تکین ** عشرها افتادی از رو بر زمین

Since they always dropped off though she tried many an artifice, (at last) she exclaimed, “A hundred curses on Iblís!”

چون بسی می‌کرد فن و آن می‌فتاد ** گفت صد لعنت بر آن ابلیس باد

Immediately Iblís took (visible) shape and said (to her), “O luckless dried-up harlot,

شد مصور آن زمان ابلیس زود ** گفت ای قحبه‌ی قدید بی‌ورود

In all my life I have never thought of this: I have never seen this (impiety practised) by any harlot except thee.

من همه عمر این نیندیشیده‌ام ** نه ز جز تو قحبه‌ای این دیده‌ام