- 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
- The Súfí was in (this) anxiety, and (meanwhile) the ass was in such a plight that—may it befall our enemies!
- صوفی اندر وسوسه و آن خر چنان ** که چنین بادا جز ای دشمنان
- That poor ass was amidst earth and stones, with his saddle crooked and his halter torn, 235
- آن خر مسکین میان خاک و سنگ ** کژ شده پالان دریده پالهنگ
- Killed (exhausted) by the journey, without fodder all the night long, now at the last gasp and now perishing.
- خسته از ره جملهی شب بیعلف ** گاه در جان کندن و گه در تلف
- All night the ass was repeating, “O God, I give up the barley; (but am I to have) less than one handful of straw?”
- خر همه شب ذکر میکرد ای اله ** جو رها کردم کم از یک مشت کاه
- With mute eloquence he was saying, “O Shaykhs, (have) some pity, for I am consumed (with anguish) because of this raw impudent rogue.”
- با زبان حال میگفت ای شیوخ ** رحمتی که سوختم زین خام شوخ
- What that ass suffered of pain and torment, the land-bird suffers (the same) in a flood of water.
- آن چه آن خر دید از رنج و عذاب ** مرغ خاکی بیند اندر سیل آب
- (All) that night till dawn the wretched ass, from exceeding hunger, rolled frequently on his side. 240
- بس به پهلو گشت آن شب تا سحر ** آن خر بیچاره از جوع البقر
- Day rose. The servant came at morn and at once laid the saddle firmly on the ass's back.
- روز شد خادم بیامد بامداد ** زود پالان جست بر پشتش نهاد
- After the fashion of ass-dealers he gave him two or three blows (with a goad): he did to the ass what is befitting from such a cur (as he was).
- خر فروشانه دو سه زخمش بزد ** کرد با خر آن چه ز آن سگ میسزد
- The sharpness of the sting set the ass jumping; where is the tongue (has an ass such a tongue) that he may describe his own state (feelings)?
- خر جهنده گشت از تیزی نیش ** کو زبان تا خر بگوید حال خویش
- How the people of the caravan supposed the Sufi's beast was ill
- گمان بردن کاروانیان که بهمیهای صوفی رنجور است
- When the Súfí mounted and got going, he (the ass) began to fall on his face every time,
- چون که صوفی بر نشست و شد روان ** رو در افتادن گرفت او هر زمان
- (And) every time the people (the travellers) lifted him up: they all thought he was ill. 245
- هر زمانش خلق بر میداشتند ** جمله رنجورش همیپنداشتند
- One would twist his ears hard, while another sought for the (lacerated) part under his palate,
- آن یکی گوشش همیپیچید سخت ** و آن دگر در زیر گامش جست لخت
- And another searched for the stone in his shoe, and another looked at the dirt in his eye.
- و آن دگر در نعل او میجست سنگ ** و آن دگر در چشم او میدید زنگ
- Also they were saying,“O Shaykh, what is the cause of this? Were not you saying yesterday, ‘Thanks (to God), this ass is strong’?”
- باز میگفتند ای شیخ این ز چیست ** دی نمیگفتی که شکر این خر قوی است
- He replied, “The ass that ate Lá hawl during the night cannot get along except in this manner.
- گفت آن خر کاو به شب لاحول خورد ** جز بدین شیوه نداند راه کرد
- Inasmuch as the ass's food by night was Lá hawl, he was glorifying God by night and (is engaged) in prostrating himself by day.” 250
- چون که قوت خر به شب لاحول بود ** شب مسبح بود و روز اندر سجود