Deem the looks which it is directing to the bait to be the knot that it is tying on its legs.
آن نظرها که به دانه می‌کند ** آن گره دان کو به پا برمی‌زند
The bait says, “If thou art stealing thy looks (away from me) I am stealing from thee patience and constancy.
دانه گوید گر تو می‌دزدی نظر ** من همی دزدم ز تو صبر و مقر
When those looks have drawn thee after me, then thou wilt know that I am not inattentive to thee.”
چون کشیدت آن نظر اندر پیم ** پس بدانی کز تو من غافل نیم
Story of the druggist whose balance-weight was clay for washing the head; and how a customer, who was a clay-eater, stole some of that clay covertly and secretly, whilst sugar was being weighed.
قصه‌ی عطاری کی سنگ ترازوی او گل سرشوی بود و دزدیدن مشتری گل خوار از آن گل هنگام سنجیدن شکر دزدیده و پنهان
A certain clay-eater went to a druggist to buy (a quantity of) fine hard sugar-loaf.625
پیش عطاری یکی گل‌خوار رفت ** تا خرد ابلوج قند خاص زفت
Now, at the druggist's, (who was) a crafty vigilant man, in place of the balance-weight there was clay.
پس بر عطار طرار دودل ** موضع سنگ ترازو بود گل
He said, “If you want to buy sugar, my balance-weight is clay.”
گفت گل سنگ ترازوی منست ** گر ترا میل شکر بخریدنست
He (the customer) said, “I am requiring sugar for an urgent affair: let the balance-weight be whatever you wish.”
گفت هستم در مهمی قندجو ** سنگ میزان هر چه خواهی باش گو
To himself he said, “What does the weight matter to one that eats clay? Clay is better than gold.”
گفت با خود پیش آنک گل‌خورست ** سنگ چه بود گل نکوتر از زرست
As the dallála (go-between) who said, “O son, I have found a very beautiful new bride (for you).630
هم‌چو آن دلاله که گفت ای پسر ** نو عروسی یافتم بس خوب‌فر
(She is) exceedingly pretty, but there is just one thing, that the lady is a confectioner's daughter.”
سخت زیبا لیک هم یک چیز هست ** که آن ستیره دختر حلواگرست
“(All the) better,” said he; “if it is indeed so, his daughter will be fatter and sweeter.”
گفت بهتر این چنین خود گر بود ** دختر او چرب و شیرین‌تر بود
“If you have no (proper) weight and your weight is of clay, this is better and better: clay is the fruit (desired) of my heart.”
گر نداری سنگ و سنگت از گلست ** این به و به گل مرا میوه‌ی دلست
He (the druggist) placed the clay, because of its being ready (to his hand), in one scale of the balance instead of the (proper) weight;
اندر آن کفه‌ی ترازو ز اعتداد ** او به جای سنگ آن گل را نهاد
Then, for the other scale, he was breaking with his hand the equivalent amount of sugar.635
پس برای کفه‌ی دیگر به دست ** هم به قدر آن شکر را می‌شکست
Since he had no pick-axe, he took a long time and made the customer sit waiting.
چون نبودش تیشه‌ای او دیر ماند ** مشتری را منتظر آنجا نشاند
(Whilst) his face was (turned) towards that (sugar), the clay-eater, unable to restrain himself, began covertly to steal the clay from him,
رویش آن سو بود گل‌خور ناشکفت ** گل ازو پوشیده دزدیدن گرفت
Terribly frightened lest his (the druggist's) eye should fall upon him of a sudden for the purpose of testing (his honesty).
ترس ترسان که نباید ناگهان ** چشم او بر من فتد از امتحان
The druggist saw it, but made himself busy, saying, “Come, steal more, O pale-faced one!
دید عطار آن و خود مشغول کرد ** که فزون‌تر دزد هین ای روی‌زرد
If you will be a thief and take some of my clay, go on (doing so), for you are eating out of your own side.640
گر بدزدی وز گل من می‌بری ** رو که هم از پهلوی خود می‌خوری
You are afraid of me, but (only) because you are a (stupid) ass: I am afraid you will eat less (too little).
تو همی ترسی ز من لیک از خری ** من همی‌ترسم که تو کمتر خوری
Though I am occupied, I am not such a fool (as to suffer) that you should get too much of my sugar-cane.
گرچه مشغولم چنان احمق نیم ** که شکر افزون کشی تو از نیم
When you see (find) by experience the (amount of) sugar (which you have bought), then you will know who was foolish and careless.”
چون ببینی مر شکر را ز آزمود ** پس بدانی احمق و غافل کی بود
The bird looks pleased at the bait; still, the bait, (though) at a distance (from it), is waylaying it.
مرغ زان دانه نظر خوش می‌کند ** دانه هم از دور راهش می‌زند
If you are deriving some pleasure from the eye's cupidity, are not you eating roast-meat from your own side?645
کز زنای چشم حظی می‌بری ** نه کباب از پهلوی خود می‌خوری
This looking from a distance is like arrows and poison: your fond passion is increased (thereby) and your self-restraint diminished.
این نظر از دور چون تیرست و سم ** عشقت افزون می‌شود صبر تو کم