The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم
To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.”2405
صبر گیریم امشب از خور تن زنیم ** بهر فردا لوت را پنهان کنیم
The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
گفت مومن امشب این خورده شود ** صبر را بنهیم تا فردا بود
Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
پس بدو گفتند زین حکمت‌گری ** قصد تو آن است تا تنها خوری
“O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
گفت ای یاران نه که ما سه تنیم ** چون خلاف افتاد تا قسمت کنیم
Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
هرکه خواهد قسم خود بر جان زند ** هرکه خواهد قسم خود پنهان کند
The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).”2410
آن دو گفتندش ز قسمت در گذر ** گوش کن قسام فی‌النار از خبر
He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”
گفت قسام آن بود کو خویش را ** کرد قسمت بر هوا و بر خدا