- 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
- The Súfí was fatigued by his journey and stretched his limbs (lay down to sleep): with his eyes closed he was dreaming 220
- صوفی از ره مانده بود و شد دراز ** خوابها میدید با چشم فراز
- That his ass was left (helpless) in the clutch of a wolf, (which) was tearing pieces (of flesh) from its back and thighs.
- کان خرش در چنگ گرگی مانده بود ** پارهها از پشت و رانش میربود
- “Good gracious!” he exclaimed, “what melancholy (madness) is this? Oh, where is that kindly servant?”
- گفت لاحول این چه مالیخولیاست ** ای عجب آن خادم مشفق کجاست
- Again he would see his ass going along the road and falling now into a well and now into a ditch.
- باز میدید آن خرش در راه رو ** گه به چاهی میفتاد و گه به گو
- He was dreaming various unpleasant dreams; he was reciting the Fátiha and the Qári‘a.
- گونهگون میدید ناخوش واقعه ** فاتحه میخواند او و القارعه
- He said (to himself), “What can be done to help? My friends have hurried out: they have departed and made all the doors fast.” 225
- گفت چاره چیست یاران جستهاند ** رفتهاند و جمله درها بستهاند
- Again he would say, “Oh, I wonder—that wretched servant! Did not he partake of bread and salt with us?
- باز میگفت ای عجب آن خادمک ** نه که با ما گشت هم نان و نمک
- I showed him nothing but courtesy and mildness: why should he on the contrary show hatred towards me?
- من نکردم با وی الا لطف و لین ** او چرا با من کند بر عکس کین
- Every enmity must rest on some cause; otherwise, our common humanity would dictate faithfulness (in friendship).”
- هر عداوت را سبب باید سند ** ور نه جنسیت وفا تلقین کند