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
Thou hast devoured our property and art carrying off thy iniquities (to the next world): for what reason was this other injustice (put) on the top (of all the rest)?”410
مال ما خوردی مظالم میبری ** از چه بود این ظلم دیگر بر سری
Till afternoon prayers the boy wept; the Shaykh closed his eyes and did not look at him.
تا نماز دیگر آن کودک گریست ** شیخ دیده بست و در وی ننگریست