When a stranger comes in at my door, the women of the harem hide themselves in the veil,
چون که نامحرم در آید از درم ** پرده در پنهان شوند اهل حرم
But if a harmless relative should come in, those covered ones will lift up their face-veils.
ور در آید محرمی دور از گزند ** بر گشایند آن ستیران رویبند
Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made (so) for the eye of him that sees.
هر چه را خوب و خوش و زیبا کنند ** از برای دیدهی بینا کنند
How should the sound of the harp and treble and bass be (made) for the insentient ear of one who is deaf?
کی بود آواز چنگ و زیر و بم ** از برای گوش بیحس اصم
Not in vain did God make musk fragrant: He made it (so) for the sense (of smell), He did not make it for one whose nostrils are stopped (by disease).2385
مشک را بیهوده حق خوش دم نکرد ** بهر حس کرد او پی اخشم نکرد
God hath fashioned the earth and the sky, He hath raised in the midst much fire and light.
حق زمین و آسمان بر ساخته ست ** در میان بس نار و نور افراخته ست
(He made) this earth for those (created) of clay, (He made) heaven to be the abode of the celestials.
این زمین را از برای خاکیان ** آسمان را مسکن افلاکیان
The low (base) man is the enemy of what is high: the purchaser (seeker) of each place (Heaven or Hell) is manifest (made known by his actions).
مرد سفلی دشمن بالا بود ** مشتری هر مکان پیدا بود
O chaste woman, hast thou ever risen up and decked thyself for the sake of him that is blind?
ای ستیره هیچ تو برخاستی ** خویشتن را بهر کور آراستی
If I should fill the world with hidden pearls (of wisdom), how should I fare (what good would it do me), since they are not thy portion (since thou art unfit to receive them)?2390
گر جهان را پر در مکنون کنم ** روزی تو چون نباشد چون کنم
O wife, take leave of quarrelling and waylaying, and if thou wilt not, (then) take leave of me!
ترک جنگ و ره زنی ای زن بگو ** ور نمیگویی به ترک من بگو
What room have I for quarrelling with the good or the bad? —for this heart of mine is recoiling (even) from acts of peace.
مر مرا چه جای جنگ نیک و بد ** کاین دلم از صلحها هم میرمد
If thou keep silence, (’tis well), and if not, I will so do that at this very moment I will leave my house and home.”
گر خمش کردی و گرنه آن کنم ** که همین دم ترک خان و مان کنم
How the wife paid regard to her husband and begged God to forgive her for what she had said.
مراعات کردن زن شوهر را و استغفار کردن از گفتهی خویش
When the wife saw that he was fierce and unmanageable, she began to weep: tears in sooth are a woman's lure.
زن چو دید او را که تند و توسن است ** گشت گریان گریه خود دام زن است
She said, “When did I imagine such (words) from thee? I hoped of thee something different.”2395
گفت از تو کی چنین پنداشتم ** از تو من اومید دیگر داشتم
The wife approached by the way of self-naughting (self-abasement). “I am thy dust,” said she, “not (worthy to be) thy lady-wife.
زن در آمد از طریق نیستی ** گفت من خاک شمایم نه ستی
Body and soul and all I am is thine: the entire authority and command belongs to thee.
جسم و جان و هر چه هستم آن تست ** حکم و فرمان جملگی فرمان تست
If because of poverty my heart has lost patience, it is not for my own sake, but for thine.
گر ز درویشی دلم از صبر جست ** بهر خویشم نیست آن بهر تو است
Thou hast been my remedy in afflictions: I am unwilling that thou shouldst be penniless.
تو مرا در دردها بودی دوا ** من نمیخواهم که باشی بینوا
By thy soul, this is not for my own sake: this wailing and moaning of mine is on account of thee.2400
جان تو کز بهر خویشم نیست این ** از برای تستم این ناله و حنین
(I swear) by God that at every moment my self would fain die for thy self before thee.
خویش من و الله که بهر خویش تو ** هر نفس خواهد که میرد پیش تو
Would that thy soul, to which my soul is devoted, were aware of my soul's inmost thoughts!
کاش جانت کش روان من فدی ** از ضمیر جان من واقف بدی
Inasmuch as thou hast such (an ill) opinion of me, I am grown weary both of soul and of body.
چون تو با من این چنین بودی به ظن ** هم ز جان بیزار گشتم هم ز تن
I cast earth on (renounce) silver and gold, since thou behavest thus to me, O comfort of my soul.
خاک را بر سیم و زر کردیم چون ** تو چنینی با من ای جان را سکون
Thou who dwellest in my soul and heart, wilt thou declare thyself to be quit of me for this (small) amount (of offence)?2405
تو که در جان و دلم جا میکنی ** زین قدر از من تبرا میکنی