The sea casts foam in front (of it) and makes a barrier: it draws back and after drawing back flows in (again).195
بحر کف پیش آرد و سدی کند ** جر کند و ز بعد جر مدی کند
Hear what has interfered (hindered my exposition) at the present time: methinks the hearer's mind has wandered elsewhere.
این زمان بشنو چه مانع شد مگر ** مستمع را رفت دل جای دگر
His thoughts have turned to the Súfí guest: he is sunk up to the neck (wholly absorbed) in that business.
خاطرش شد سوی صوفی قنق ** اندر آن سودا فرو شد تا عنق
(Therefore) it behoves me to go back from this discourse to that story in order to describe what happened (to him).
لازم آمد باز رفتن زین مقال ** سوی آن افسانه بهر وصف حال
O dear friend, do not fancy the Súfí is the (external) form (which you behold): how long, like children, (will you be content) with walnuts and raisins?
صوفی آن صورت مپندار ای عزیز ** همچو طفلان تا کی از جوز و مویز
Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;200
جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر ** گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر
And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).
ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق ** بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق
Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.
بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را ** لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را
.
.
When at last (the meditation of) that circle of Súfís who were seeking (spiritual) profit came to an end (culminated) in ecstasy and enthusiasm,
حلقهای آن صوفیان مستفید ** چون که در وجد و طرب آخر رسید
They brought dishes of food for the guest, and he then bethought him of his beast.
خوان بیاوردند بهر میهمان ** از بهیمه یاد آورد آن زمان
He said to the famulus (the servant of the Súfís), “Go into the stable and make the straw and barley all right for the animal.”205
گفت خادم را که در آخر برو ** راست کن بهر بهیمه کاه و جو
“Good gracious!” he replied, “why this saying overmuch? These things have been my care since long ago.”
گفت لا حول این چه افزون گفتن است ** از قدیم این کارها کار من است
The Súfí said, “First wet his barley, for ’tis an old ass, and his teeth are shaky.”
گفت تر کن آن جوش را از نخست ** کان خر پیر است و دندانهاش سست
“Good gracious!” said he, “why are you telling (me) this, Sir? They are taught by me (to make) these arrangements.”
گفت لاحول این چه میگویی مها ** از من آموزند این ترتیبها
The Súfí said, “First of all take off his saddle and (then) put the salve of manbal on his sore back.”
گفت پالانش فرو نه پیش پیش ** داروی منبل بنه بر پشت ریش
“Good gracious!” exclaimed the servant. “Why, O purveyor of wisdom, I have had a thousand guests of your sort,210
گفت لاحول آخر ای حکمت گزار ** جنس تو مهمانم آمد صد هزار
And all have departed from us well-pleased: the guest is (dear to us as) our life and our kinsman.”
جمله راضی رفتهاند از پیش ما ** هست مهمان جان ما و خویش ما
The Súfí said, “Give him water, but (let it be) lukewarm.” “Good gracious!” cried the other, “I am ashamed of you.”
گفت آبش ده و لیکن شیر گرم ** گفت لاحول از توام بگرفت شرم
The Súfí said, “Put (only) a little straw in his barley.” “Good gracious! Cut short this speech,” he replied.
گفت اندر جو تو کمتر کاه کن ** گفت لاحول این سخن کوتاه کن
The Súfí said, “Sweep his place (clear) of stones and dung, and if it is wet, sprinkle dry earth on it.”
گفت جایش را بروب از سنگ و پشک ** ور بود تر ریز بر وی خاک خشک
“Good gracious!” cried he, “implore God's grace, O father and say little (give few instructions) to a messenger who knows his business.”215
گفت لاحول ای پدر لاحول کن ** با رسول اهل کمتر گو سخن
The Súfí said, “Take the comb and curry the ass's back.” “Good gracious! do have some shame, O father,” said he.
گفت بستان شانه پشت خر بخار ** گفت لاحول ای پدر شرمی بدار
The servant said this and briskly girded up his loins. “I go,” said he; “first I will fetch the straw and barley.”
خادم این گفت و میان را بست چست ** گفت رفتم کاه و جو آرم نخست
Off he went and never thought of the stable at all: he gave that Súfí (a pretence like) the sleep of the hare.
رفت و از آخر نکرد او هیچ یاد ** خواب خرگوشی بدان صوفی بداد
The servant went off to (join) some rascals and made a mockery of the Súfí's admonition.
رفت خادم جانب اوباش چند ** کرد بر اندرز صوفی ریشخند