The wife came before the cadi with (some other) women: she made a certain woman her interpreter,4555
زن بر قاضی در آمد با زنان ** مر زنی را کرد آن زن ترجمان
Lest the cadi should recognise her by her speech and remember his past misfortune.
تا بنشناسد ز گفتن قاضیش ** یاد ناید از بلای ماضیش
The coquettish glances of a woman are fascinating, but that (fascination) is increased a hundredfold by her voice.
هست فتنه غمره‌ی غماز زن ** لیک آن صدتو شود ز آواز زن
Since she durst not raise (utter) a sound, the wife's ogling looks alone were of no avail.
چون نمی‌توانست آوازی فراشت ** غمزه‌ی تنهای زن سودی نداشت
“Go,” said the cadi, “and fetch the defendant, that I may settle thy quarrel with him.”
گفت قاضی رو تو خصمت را بیار ** تا دهم کار ترا با او قرار
(When) Júhí arrived, the cadi did not recognise him at once, for at (their first) meeting he was in the chest.4560
جوحی آمد قاضیش نشناخت زود ** کو به وقت لقیه در صندوق بود
He had (only) heard his voice outside, during the buying and selling and chaffering.
زو شنیده بود آواز از برون ** در شری و بیع و در نقص و فزون
He said (to Júhí), “Why won't you give your wife all the money she needs for expenses?” He replied, “I am devoted with (heart and) soul to the religious law,
گفت نفقه‌ی زن چرا ندهی تمام ** گفت از جان شرع را هستم غلام
But if I die I do not possess (enough to pay for) the shroud: I am bankrupt in this game, I have gambled everything away.”
لیک اگر میرم ندارم من کفن ** مفلس این لعبم و شش پنج زن
From (hearing) these words the cadi, as it happened, recognised him and called to mind his roguery and the trick he had played.
زین سخن قاضی مگر بشناختش ** یاد آورد آن دغل وان باختش