- 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
- Worldly riches are a trap for the weak birds; the kingdom of the next world is a trap for the noble birds,
- مال دنیا دام مرغان ضعیف ** ملک عقبی دام مرغان شریف
- To the end that by means of this kingdom, which is a deep trap, the great birds may be ensnared.
- تا بدین ملکی که او دامست ژرف ** در شکار آرند مرغان شگرف
- “I, Solomon, do not desire your kingdom; nay, but I will deliver you from every destruction;
- من سلیمان مینخواهم ملکتان ** بلک من برهانم از هر هلکتان
- For at this time ye are indeed slaves to the kingdom; the owner of the kingdom is he that escaped from destruction.” 650
- کین زمان هستید خود مملوک ملک ** مالک ملک آنک بجهید او ز هلک