Rumi's Masnavi - “O husband,” cried the woman, “come now, give up this (idea)!” (However), he swore several times that he would do just as he had said.

“O husband,” cried the woman, “come now, give up this (idea)!” (However), he swore several times that he would do just as he had said.

گفت زن هی در گذر ای مرد ازین ** خورد سوگندان که نکنم جز چنین

Early (next morning) he (went) like the wind, fetched a porter, and immediately put the chest on his back. 4490

از پگه حمال آورد او چو باد ** زود آن صندوق بر پشتش نهاد

(He set off with it, while) the cadi inside the chest shouted in an agony (of terror), “O porter! O porter!”

اندر آن صندوق قاضی از نکال ** بانگ می‌زد که ای حمال و ای حمال

The porter looked to the right and the left to see from what direction the shouts and warnings were coming.

کرد آن حمال راست و چپ نظر ** کز چه سو در می‌رسد بانک و خبر

“I wonder,” said he, “is it a hátif, this voice which is calling me, or is it a peri (jinní) summoning me mysteriously?”

هاتفست این داعی من ای عجب ** یا پری‌ام می‌کند پنهان طلب

When the shouts followed one another in succession and increased, he said, “’Tis not a hátif,” and recovered himself.

چون پیاپی گشت آن آواز و بیش ** گفت هاتف نیست باز آمد به خویش

At last he perceived that the shouts and cries for help came from the chest and that somebody was concealed in it. 4495

عاقبت دانست کان بانگ و فغان ** بد ز صندوق و کسی در وی نهان

The lover who has fallen passionately in love with an (earthly) object of affection has gone into the chest, though (in appearance) he is outside.

عاشقی کو در غم معشوق رفت ** گر چه بیرونست در صندوق رفت

He has spent (wasted) his life in the chest on account of (worldly) cares: he can see nothing of the world except a chest.

عمر در صندوق برد از اندهان ** جز که صندوقی نبیند از جهان

The head that is not (raised) above the sky—know that it is (confined) in that chest by its vain desires.

آن سری که نیست فوق آسمان ** از هوس او را در آن صندوق دان