Because he (the sufferer) did not set his mind on (anticipate) his (the friend's) cruelty and injustice: his soul was accustomed to kindness and faithfulness from him.
زانک دل ننهاد بر جور و جفاش ** جانش خوگر بود با لطف و وفاش
Whatsoever is tribulation and sore grief to men, know for sure that this is in consequence of its being contrary to habit.625
هرچه بر مردم بلا و شدتست ** این یقین دان کز خلاف عادتست
He (the townsman) said (further), “O thou the sun of whose love is in decline, if thou hast shed my blood, I acquit thee.
گفت ای خورشید مهرت در زوال ** گر تو خونم ریختی کردم حلال
On this night of rain give us a nook (to shelter in), so that at the Resurrection thou mayst obtain a viaticum (reward for the good work).”
امشب باران به ما ده گوشه‌ای ** تا بیابی در قیامت توشه‌ای
“There is a nook,” he replied, “belonging to the keeper of the vineyard: he keeps watch there against the wolf,
گفت یک گوشه‌ست آن باغبان ** هست اینجا گرگ را او پاسبان
(With) bow and arrow in his hand on account of the wolf, so that he may shoot if the fierce wolf should come.
در کفش تیر و کمان از بهر گرگ ** تا زند گر آید آن گرگ سترگ
If thou wilt do that service, the place is thine; and if not, have the kindness to seek another place.”630
گر تو آن خدمت کنی جا آن تست ** ورنه جای دیگری فرمای جست
He said, “I will do a hundred services, (only) give thou the place, and put that bow and arrow in my hand.
گفت صد خدمت کنم تو جای ده ** آن کمان و تیر در کفم بنه
I will not sleep, I will guard the vines; if the wolf raise his head, I will shoot the arrow at him.
من نخسپم حارسی رز کنم ** گر بر آرد گرگ سر تیرش زنم
For God's sake do not leave me to-night, O double-hearted (hypocrite), (with) the rain-water overhead and the mud underneath!”
بهر حق مگذارم امشب ای دودل ** آب باران بر سر و در زیر گل
A nook was cleared, and he with his family went thither: (’twas) a narrow place and without room to turn.
گوشه‌ای خالی شد و او با عیال ** رفت آنجا جای تنگ و بی مجال
Mounted upon one another, like locusts, (and crowded) from terror of the flood into the corner of the cavern,635
چون ملخ بر همدگر گشته سوار ** از نهیب سیل اندر کنج غار
During the night, the whole night, they all (were) crying, “O God, this serves us right, serves us right, serves us right.”
شب همه شب جمله گویان ای خدا ** این سزای ما سزای ما سزا
This is what is deserved by him that consorted with the vile, or showed worthiness for the sake of the unworthy.
این سزای آنک شد یار خسان ** یا کسی کرداز برای ناکسان
This is what is deserved by him that in vain desire gives up paying homage to the dust of the noble.
این سزای آنک اندر طمع خام ** ترک گوید خدمت خاک کرام
That you lick the dust and the wall of the pure (elect) is better (for you) than the vulgar and their vines and rose-gardens.
خاک پاکان لیسی و دیوارشان ** بهتر از عام و رز و گلزارشان
That you become a slave to a man of enlightened heart is better (for you) than that you should walk upon the crown of the head of kings.640
بنده‌ی یک مرد روشن‌دل شوی ** به که بر فرق سر شاهان روی
From the kings of earth you will get nothing but the (empty) noise of a drum, O courier of (many) roads.
از ملوک خاک جز بانگ دهل ** تو نخواهی یافت ای پیک سبل
Even the townsmen are brigands in comparison with the Spirit. Who is the countryman? The fool that is without spiritual gifts.
شهریان خود ره‌زنان نسبت بروح ** روستایی کیست گیج و بی فتوح
This is what is deserved by him who, (when) the cry of a ghoul came to him, without rational foresight chose to move (towards the ghoul).
این سزای آنک بی تدبیر عقل ** بانگ غولی آمدش بگزید نقل
When repentance has gone from the (core of the) heart to the pericardium after that it is of no use to acknowledge (one's sin).
چون پشیمانی ز دل شد تا شغاف ** زان سپس سودی ندارد اعتراف
(With) the bow and arrow in his hand, he (was) seeking the wolf all night to and fro.645
آن کمان و تیر اندر دست او ** گرگ را جویان همه شب سو بسو
The wolf, in sooth, was given power over him, like sparks of fire: (he was) seeking the wolf (outside), and (was) unaware of the wolf (within himself).
گرگ بر وی خود مسلط چون شرر ** گرگ جویان و ز گرگ او بی‌خبر
Every gnat, every flea, had become as a wolf and inflicted a wound upon them in that ruined place.
هر پشه هر کیک چون گرگی شده ** اندر آن ویرانه‌شان زخمی زده
There was no opportunity even of driving away those gnats, because of (their) dread of an attack by the contumacious wolf,
فرصت آن پشه راندن هم نبود ** از نهیب حمله‌ی گرگ عنود