The Cadi called him (the insolvent) from the prison into his presence, and (then) inquired (about him) from his own officers.625
خواند او را قاضی از زندان به پیش ** پس تفحص کرد از اعیان خویش
All the complaints which that flock (of prisoners) had set forth were proved to the Cadi.
گشت ثابت پیش قاضی آن همه ** که نمودند از شکایت آن رمه
The Cadi said (to him), “Get up and depart from this prison: go to the house which is your inherited property.”
گفت قاضی خیز از این زندان برو ** سوی خانهی مردهریگ خویش شو
He replied, “My house and home consist in thy beneficence; as (in the case of) an infidel, thy prison is my Paradise.
گفت خان و مان من احسان تست ** همچو کافر جنتم زندان تست
If thou wilt drive me from the prison and turn me out, verily I shall die of destitution and beggary.”
گر ز زندانم برانی تو به رد ** خود بمیرم من ز تقصیری و کد
(He pleaded) like the Devil, who was saying, “O Preserver, O my Lord, grant me a respite till the day of Resurrection;630
همچو ابلیسی که میگفت ای سلام ** رب أنظرنی إلی یوم القیام
For I am happy (to be) in the prison of this world, in order that I may be slaying the children of mine enemy,
کاندر این زندان دنیا من خوشم ** تا که دشمن زادگان را میکشم
(And), if any one have some food of faith and a single loaf as provision for the journey (to the life hereafter),
هر که او را قوت ایمانی بود ** و ز برای زاد ره نانی بود
I may seize it, now by plot and now by guile, so that in repentance they may raise an outcry (of lamentation);
میستانم گه به مکر و گه به ریو ** تا بر آرند از پشیمانی غریو
(And in order that) sometimes I may threaten them with poverty, sometimes bind their eyes with (the spell of) tress and mole.”
گه به درویشی کنم تهدیدشان ** گه به زلف و خال بندم دیدشان
In this prison (the world) the food of faith is scarce, and that which exists is in (danger of being caught in) the noose (of destruction) through the attack of this cur.635
قوت ایمانی در این زندان کم است ** وان که هست از قصد این سگ در خم است
(If) from prayer and fasting and a hundred helplessnesses (utter self-abnegations) the food of spiritual feeling come (to any one), he (the Devil) at once carries it off.
از نماز و صوم و صد بیچارگی ** قوت ذوق آید برد یک بارگی
I seek refuge with God from His Satan: we have perished, alas, through his overweening disobedience.
أستعیذ الله من شیطانه ** قد هلکنا آه من طغیانه
He is (but) one cur, and he goes into thousands (of people): into whomsoever he goes, he (that person) becomes he (Satan).
یک سگ است و در هزاران میرود ** هر که در وی رفت او او میشود
Whoever makes you cold (damps your spiritual ardour) know that he (Satan) is in him: the Devil has become hidden beneath his skin.
هر که سردت کرد میدان کاو در اوست ** دیو پنهان گشته اندر زیر پوست
When he finds no (bodily) form, he comes into (your) fancy, in order that that fancy may lead you into woe:640
چون نیابد صورت آید در خیال ** تا کشاند آن خیالت در وبال
Now the fancy of recreation, now of the shop; now the fancy of knowledge, and now of house and home.
گه خیال فرجه و گاهی دکان ** گه خیال علم و گاهی خان و مان
Beware! say at once “God help me!” again and again, not with tongue alone but from your very soul.
هان بگو لاحولها اندر زمان ** از زبان تنها نه بلک از عین جان
The end of the story of the insolvent.
تتمه قصه مفلس
The Cadi said, “Show plainly that you are insolvent.” “Here are the prisoners,” he replied, “as thy witnesses.”
گفت قاضی مفلسی را وانما ** گفت اینک اهل زندانت گوا
“They,” said the Cadi, “are suspect, because they are fleeing from you and weeping blood (on account of your ill-treatment of them);
گفت ایشان متهم باشند چون ** میگریزند از تو میگریند خون
Also, they are suing to be delivered from you: by reason of this self-interest the testimony they give is worthless.”645
از تو میخواهند هم تا وارهند ** زین غرض باطل گواهی میدهند
All the people belonging to the court of justice said, “We bear witness both to his (moral) degeneracy and his insolvency.”
جمله اهل محکمه گفتند ما ** هم بر ادبار و بر افلاسش گوا
Every one whom the Cadi questioned about his condition said, “My lord, wash thy hands of this insolvent.”
هر که را پرسید قاضی حال او ** گفت مولا دست ازین مفلس بشو
The Cadi said, “March him round the city for all to see, (and cry), ‘This man is an insolvent and a great rogue.’
گفت قاضی کش بگردانید فاش ** گرد شهر این مفلس است و بس قلاش
Make proclamations concerning him, street by street; beat the drum (as an advertisement) of his insolvency everywhere in open view.
کو به کو او را مناداها زنید ** طبل افلاسش عیان هر جا زنید