- Since God hath given them in return the spirit of everlastingness—a spirit safe from grief and pain and misery. 385
- چون خلف دادستشان جان بقا ** جان ایمن از غم و رنج و شقا
- The debtor Shaykh acted in this fashion for years, taking and giving like a steward.
- شیخ وامی سالها این کار کرد ** میستد میداد همچون پای مرد
- He was sowing seeds till the day of death, that on the day of death he might be a most glorious prince.
- تخمها میکاشت تا روز اجل ** تا بود روز اجل میر اجل
- When the Shaykh's life reached its end and he saw in his (bodily) existence the signs of death,
- چون که عمر شیخ در آخر رسید ** در وجود خود نشان مرگ دید
- The creditors were seated together around him, (while) the Shaykh was gently melting on himself, like a candle.
- وامداران گرد او بنشسته جمع ** شیخ بر خود خوش گدازان همچو شمع
- The creditors had become despairing and sour-faced: the pain in (their) hearts was accompanied by pain in (their) lungs. 390
- وامداران گشته نومید و ترش ** درد دلها یار شد با درد شش
- “Look at these evil-thinking men,” said the Shaykh. “Hath not God four hundred gold dinars?”
- شیخ گفت این بد گمانان را نگر ** نیست حق را چار صد دینار زر
- A boy outside shouted “Halwá!” and bragged of (the excellence of) the halwá in hope of (getting) some dángs.
- کودکی حلوا ز بیرون بانگ زد ** لاف حلوا بر امید دانگ زد
- The Shaykh with (a nod of) his head directed the famulus to go and buy the whole of the halwá,
- شیخ اشارت کرد خادم را به سر ** که برو آن جمله حلوا را بخر
- (Saying to himself), “so that the creditors, when they eat the halwá, for a (short) while may not look bitterly on me.”
- تا غریمان چون که آن حلوا خورند ** یک زمانی تلخ در من ننگرند
- The famulus at once went out through the doorway to buy with gold the halwá entire. 395
- در زمان خادم برون آمد به در ** تا خرد او جمله حلوا ز ان پسر
- He said to the boy, “How much is the halwá in the lump?” The boy said, “Half a dinar and some small change.”
- گفت او را جملهی حلوا به چند ** گفت کودک نیم دیناری و اند
- “Nay,” he replied; “don't ask too much from Súfís: I will give you half a dinar. Say no more.”
- گفت نه از صوفیان افزون مجو ** نیم دینارت دهم دیگر مگو
- The boy put the tray before the Shaykh. Behold (now) the mysterious secret thoughts of the Shaykh!
- او طبق بنهاد اندر پیش شیخ ** تو ببین اسرار سر اندیش شیخ
- He made a sign to the creditors (as though to say), “Look, this gift (of sweetmeat) is a present (to you): eat this gladly, it is lawful (food).”
- کرد اشارت با غریمان کین نوال ** نک تبرک خوش خورید این را حلال
- When the tray was emptied, the boy took it and said, “Give me the gold, O Sage.” 400
- چون طبق خالی شد آن کودک ستد ** گفت دینارم بده ای با خرد
- The Shaykh said, “From where shall I get the money? I am in debt and going towards non-existence.”
- شیخ گفتا از کجا آرم درم ** وام دارم میروم سوی عدم
- The boy in (his) grief dashed the tray upon the ground; he raised (his voice in) lamentation and weeping and moaning.
- کودک از غم زد طبق را بر زمین ** ناله و گریه بر آورد و حنین
- The boy was weeping with loud sobs because of the swindle, (and crying), “Would that both my legs had been broken (ere I came hither)!
- میگریست از غبن کودک های های ** کای مرا بشکسته بودی هر دو پای
- Would that I had loitered round the bath-stove and had not passed by the door of this monastery!
- کاشکی من گرد گلخن گشتمی ** بر در این خانقه نگذشتمی
- Lickspittle gluttonous Súfís, dogs at heart and washing their faces like cats!” 405
- صوفیان طبل خوار لقمه جو ** سگ دلان و همچو گربه روی شو
- At the boy's clamour all and sundry gathered there and crowded round the boy.
- از غریو کودک آن جا خیر و شر ** گرد آمد گشت بر کودک حشر
- He came to the Shaykh and said, “O cruel Shaykh, know for sure that my master will kill me (with blows).
- پیش شیخ آمد که ای شیخ درشت ** تو یقین دان که مرا استاد کشت
- If I go (back) to him empty-handed, he will kill me: wilt thou give (him) leave (to do that)?”
- گر روم من پیش او دست تهی ** او مرا بکشد اجازت میدهی
- And those creditors too turned to the Shaykh with disbelief and denial, saying, “What was this anyhow?
- و آن غریمان هم به انکار و جحود ** رو به شیخ آورده کاین باری چه بود