They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
هم در آن دم آن خرک بفروختند ** لوت آوردند و شمع افروختند
Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
ولوله افتاد اندر خانقه ** کامشبان لوت و سماع است و شره
How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
چند از این صبر و از این سه روزه چند ** چند از این زنبیل و این دریوزه چند
We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.525
تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند
And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش میباختند
When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
گفت چون میدید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی
They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.530
دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن
Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
گاه دست افشان قدم میکوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را میروفتند
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق
(But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او میزیند
When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain.535
چون سماع آمد از اول تا کران ** مطرب آغازید یک ضرب گران
He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
خر برفت و خر برفت آغاز کرد ** زین حراره جمله را انباز کرد
From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"
زین حراره پای کوبان تا سحر ** کفزنان خر رفت و خر رفت ای پسر
By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”
از ره تقلید آن صوفی همین ** خر برفت آغاز کرد اندر حنین
When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
چون گذشت آن نوش و جوش و آن سماع ** روز گشت و جمله گفتند الوداع
The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage.540
خانقه خالی شد و صوفی بماند ** گرد از رخت آن مسافر میفشاند
He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.
رخت از حجره برون آورد او ** تا به خر بر بندد آن همراه جو
He was hurrying that he might overtake his fellow-travellers; he went into the stable but did not find the ass.
تا رسد در همرهان او میشتافت ** رفت در آخر خر خود را نیافت
He said, “The servant has taken it (the ass) to water, because it drank little water last night.”
گفت آن خادم به آبش برده است ** ز انکه خر دوش آب کمتر خورده است