- He (the inquirer) saw no opportunity to tell his heart's secret: he at once made an evasion and drew him into jesting talk.
- او مجال راز دل گفتن ندید ** زو برون شو کرد و در لاغش کشید
- He said, “I wish to marry a woman in this street: who is suitable for one like me?”
- گفت میخواهم در این کوچه زنی ** کیست لایق از برای چون منی
- “There are three kinds of women in the world,” said he: “two of those are a sorrow, and one is the soul's treasure. 2405
- گفت سه گونه زناند اندر جهان ** آن دو رنج و این یکی گنج روان
- The first, when you marry her, is wholly yours; and the second is half yours and half separate (from you);
- آن یکی را چون بخواهی کل تراست ** و آن دگر نیمی ترا نیمی جداست
- And the third, know she is not yours at all. You have heard this. Away (with you)!—I start in a trice—
- و آن سوم هیچ او ترا نبود بدان ** این شنودی دور شو رفتم روان
- Lest my horse let fly a kick at you, so that you fall and never rise up (again).”
- تا ترا اسبم نپراند لگد ** که بیفتی بر نخیزی تا ابد
- The Shaykh rode off amongst the children, (but) the young man shouted to him once more,
- شیخ راند اندر میان کودکان ** بانگ زد بار دگر او را جوان
- “Come, prithee declare the exposition of this. Thou hast said that these women are of three kinds: pick (them) out.” 2410
- که بیا آخر بگو تفسیر این ** این زنان سه نوع گفتی بر گزین
- He rode towards him and said to him, “The virgin of your choice will be wholly yours, and you will gain freedom from sorrow;
- راند سوی او و گفتش بکر خاص ** کل ترا باشد ز غم یابی خلاص
- And she that is half yours is the (childless) widow; and she that is nothing (to you) is the married woman with a child:
- و انکه نیمی آن تو بیوه بود ** و انکه هیچست آن عیال با ولد
- When she has a child by her first husband, her love and whole heart will go to that quarter.
- چون ز شوی اولش کودک بود ** مهر و کل خاطرش آن سو رود
- (Now) get away, lest my horse launch a kick, and the hoof of my restive horse land upon you.”
- دور شو تا اسب نندازد لگد ** سم اسب توسنم بر تو رسد
- The Shaykh gave a loud cry of jubilation and rode back: he again called the children to him. 2415
- های و هویی کرد شیخ و باز راند ** کودکان را باز سوی خویش خواند
- That inquirer shouted to him once more, “Come (hither), I have one question left, O sovereign king.”
- باز بانگش کرد آن سایل بیا ** یک سؤالم ماند ای شاه کیا
- He rode back in this direction. “Say what it is,” he cried, “as quick as you can, for yonder child has enraptured my heart.”
- باز راند این سو بگو زودتر چه بود ** که ز میدان آن بچه گویم ربود
- Said the other, “O king, with such intelligence and erudition (as thou hast), what dissimulation is this? What acting is this? Oh, ’tis a marvel!
- گفت ای شه با چنین عقل و ادب ** این چه شیداست این چه فعل است ای عجب
- Thou transcendest the Universal Intellect in (thy power of) elucidation. Thou art a sun: how art thou hid in madness?”
- تو ورای عقل کلی در بیان ** آفتابی در جنون چونی نهان
- He replied, “These rascals are proposing to make me Cadi in this their city. 2420
- گفت این اوباش رایی میزنند ** تا در این شهر خودم قاضی کنند
- I raised objections, (but) they said to me, ‘Nay, there is none so learned and accomplished as thou.
- دفع میگفتم مرا گفتند نی ** نیست چون تو عالمی صاحب فنی
- Whilst thou art in existence, it is unlawful and wicked that any one inferior to thee should cite Prophetic Traditions in the office of Cadi.
- با وجود تو حرام است و خبیث ** که کم از تو در قضا گوید حدیث
- Permission is not (given) in the Law, that we should appoint one less than thee as (our) prince and leader.’
- در شریعت نیست دستوری که ما ** کمتر از تو شه کنیم و پیشوا
- By this necessity I was made distraught and mad (in appearance), but inwardly I am just the same as I was.
- زین ضرورت گیج و دیوانه شدم ** لیک در باطن همانم که بدم
- My intelligence is the (hidden) treasure, and I am the ruin (which covers it); if I display the treasure, (then) I am mad (indeed). 2425
- عقل من گنج است و من ویرانهام ** گنج اگر پیدا کنم دیوانهام
- The (real) madman is he that has not gone mad, he that has seen this night patrol and has not gone home.
- اوست دیوانه که دیوانه نشد ** این عسس را دید و در خانه نشد
- My knowledge is substantial, not accidental; and this precious (thing) is not for (the purpose of gaining) every (worldly) interest.
- دانش من جوهر آمد نه عرض ** این بهایی نیست بهر هر غرض