(Then) she began to investigate in earnest: she became prepared to investigate at every moment.
در تفحص اندر افتاد او به جد ** شد تفحص را دمادم مستعد
The soul must needs be devoted to earnest endeavour, for the earnest seeker will be a finder.
جد را باید که جان بنده بود ** زانک جد جوینده یابنده بود
Postquam rem asini perscrutata est, ancillulam narcisso similem vidit sub asino cubantem. [When she investigated the ass’s condition, she saw the little narcissus (the maidservant) lying under the ass.]
چون تفحص کرد از حال اشک ** دید خفته زیر خر آن نرگسک
Through a crack in the door she saw what was going on: the old woman marvelled greatly thereat.
از شکاف در بدید آن حال را ** بس عجب آمد از آن آن زال را
(Vidit) asinum futuentem ancillam sicut viri ratione et more (concumbunt) cum feminis. [(She saw) the ass copulating with the maidservant in the manner that men reasonably and customarily (do) with women.]1345
خر همی‌گاید کنیزک را چنان ** که به عقل و رسم مردان با زنان
She became envious and said, “Since this is possible, then I have the best right, for the ass is my property.
در حسد شد گفت چون این ممکنست ** پس نم اولیتر که خر ملک منست
The ass has been perfectly trained and instructed: the table is laid and the lamp is lighted.”
خر مهذب گشته و آموخته ** خوان نهادست و چراغ افروخته
Feigning to have seen nothing, she knocked at the door of the room (stable), saying, “How long will you be sweeping the room, O maid?”
کرد نادیده و در خانه بکوفت ** کای کنیزک چند خواهی خانه روفت
She spoke these words as a blind (and added), “I have come, O maid: open the door.”
از پی روپوش می‌گفت این سخن ** کای کنیزک آمدم در باز کن
(Then) she became silent and said no more to the maid: she concealed the secret for the sake of her own desire.1350
کرد خاموش و کنیزک را نگفت ** راز را از بهر طمع خود نهفت
Thereupon the maid hid all the apparatus of iniquity and came forward and opened the door.
پس کنیزک جمله آلات فساد ** کرد پنهان پیش شد در را گشاد
She made her face sour and her eyes full of moisture (tears) and rubbed her lips (against each other), meaning to say, “I am fasting.”
رو ترش کرد و دو دیده پر ز نم ** لب فرو مالید یعنی صایمم
In her hand was a soft broom, as though to say, “I was sweeping the room in order to clean it.”
در کف او نرمه جاروبی که من ** خانه را می‌روفتم بهر عطن
When, with the broom (in her hand), she opened the door, the mistress said under her breath, “O crafty one,
چونک باع جاروب در را وا گشاد ** گفت خاتون زیر لب کای اوستاد
You have made your face sour and (taken) a broom in your hand; what is (the meaning of) the ass having turned away from his fodder?1355
رو ترش کردی و جاروبی به کف ** چیست آن خر برگسسته از علف
Re semiconfecta, iratus, agitans veretrum: quia te exspectat ideo (sunt) duo oculi ejus ad januam (conversi).” [Half-finished and angry, (its) penis (was still) moving: its (the ass’s) two eyes (were turned) toward the door in expectation of you.”]
نیم کاره و خشمگین جنبان ذکر ** ز انتظار تو دو چشمش سوی در
This she said under her breath and concealed (her thought) from the maid: at that moment she treated her, like innocent persons, honourably.
زیر لب گفت این نهان کرد از کنیز ** داشتش آن دم چو بی‌جرمان عزیز
Afterwards she said to her, “Put the chádar on your head, go and take a message from me to such and such a house.
بعد از آن گفتش که چادر نه به سر ** رو فلان خانه ز من پیغام بر
Say so-and-so and do so-and-so.” I abridge the talk of the women.
این چنین گو وین چنین کن وآنچنان ** مختصر کردم من افسانه‌ی زنان
Take the gist of what is to the purpose. When the discreet old woman had sent her (the maid) away,1360
آنچ مقصودست مغز آن بگیر ** چون براهش کرد آن زال ستیر
Propter ebrietatem libidinis gaudebat: she shut the door, saying meanwhile, [She was happy from the intoxication of (her) lust: she shut the door, saying meanwhile,]
بود از مستی شهوت شادمان ** در فرو بست و همی‌گفت آن زمان
“I have secured privacy, I will shout in thanksgiving: I am delivered from the four dángs and the two dángs.”
یافتم خلوت زنم از شکر بانگ ** رسته‌ام از چار دانگ و از دو دانگ
Gaudio hircus (prurigo) feminae quae in igne libidinis asini inquieta erat mille factus est. [From joy, the woman’s goat (of lust) had become a thousand (-fold); (she became) restless in the sparks of the ass’s lust.]
از طرب گشته بزان زن هزار ** در شرار شهوت خر بی‌قرار
Qualis hircus est ille quem tanta libido ludibrium fecit? Stultum deludi non est mirabile. [What goat (was) that?—for lust took her goat (made a fool of her). The taking of a fool’s goat is not (something) amazing.]
چه بزان که آن شهوت او را بز گرفت ** بز گرفتن گیج را نبود شگفت
Lustful desire makes the heart deaf and blind, so that an ass seems like Joseph, fire (like) light.1365
میل شهوت کر کند دل را و کور ** تا نماید خر چو یوسف نار نور