- 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
- Then he would say again, “When had Adam, the kind and generous, done an injury to Iblís?
- باز میگفت آدم با لطف وجود ** کی بر آن ابلیس جوری کرده بود
- What was done by man to snake and scorpion that they wish (to inflict) death and pain upon him? 230
- آدمی مر مار و کژدم را چه کرد ** کاو همیخواهد مر او را مرگ و درد
- To rend is the instinct of the wolf: after all, this envy is conspicuous in mankind.”
- گرگ را خود خاصیت بدریدن است ** این حسد در خلق آخر روشن است
- Again he would say, “It is wrong thus to think evil: why have I such thoughts against my brother?”
- باز میگفت این گمان بد خطاست ** بر برادر این چنین ظنم چراست
- Then he would say, “Prudence consists in your thinking evil: how shall he that thinks no evil remain unhurt?”
- باز گفتی حزم سوء الظن تست ** هر که بد ظن نیست کی ماند درست