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
Oh, many a one intoxicated with fire and seeking fire deems himself absolute light.
ای بسا سرمست نار و نارجو ** خویشتن را نور مطلق داند او
(He is lost) unless a (chosen) servant of God, or the pull of God (Himself), lead him into the (right) way and turn over his leaf,
جز مگر بنده‌ی خدا یا جذب حق ** با رهش آرد بگرداند ورق
So that he may know that the fiery phantom (which he mistook for light) in the Path is but a loan (unreal).
تا بداند که آن خیال ناریه ** در طریقت نیست الا عاریه
(Sensual) cupidity causes foul things to appear fair: among the banes of the Way there is none like lust, none worse.
زشتها را خوب بنماید شره ** نیست چون شهوت بتر ز آفتاب ره
It has disgraced a hundred thousand good names, it has stupefied (besotted) a hundred thousand clever men.1370
صد هزاران نام خوش را کرد ننگ ** صد هزاران زیرکان را کرد دنگ
Since it caused an ass to appear (like) Joseph of Egypt, how (in what aspect) will that (miscreant) Jew cause a Joseph to appear?
چون خری را یوسف مصری نمود ** یوسفی را چون نماید آن جهود
Its spell made dung seem honey to you: what, forsooth, will it make honey seem at the time of contest?
بر تو سرگین را فسونش شهد کرد ** شهد را خود چون کند وقت نبرد
Lust arises from eating and drinking: diminish your food, or marry and (so) flee from wickedness.
شهوت از خوردن بود کم کن ز خور ** یا نکاحی کن گریزان شو ز شر
When you have eaten and drunk (too much), it leads to things forbidden: there must necessarily be some outgoing of income.
چون بخوردی می‌کشد سوی حرم ** دخل را خرجی بباید لاجرم
Marriage, then, is like (the exorcism), “There is neither power nor (strength except in God),” lest the Devil cast you into temptation.1375
پس نکاح آمد چو لاحول و لا ** تا که دیوت نفکند اندر بلا
Since you are fond of eating and drinking, ask a woman (in marriage) at once; else the cat comes and carries off the fat sheep's tail.
چون حریص خوردنی زن خواه زود ** ورنه آمد گربه و دنبه ربود
Quickly put a heavy load on the shying ass before he puts (you) down.
بار سنگی بر خری که می‌جهد ** زود بر نه پیش از آن کو بر نهد
(If) you do not know the effect of fire, hold aloof (from it): do not approach the fire with such (little) knowledge (as you have).
فعل آتش را نمی‌دانی تو برد ** گرد آتش با چنین دانش مگرد
If you have no knowledge of the cooking-pot and the fire, neither the pot nor the soup will be spared by the flames.
علم دیگ و آتش ار نبود ترا ** از شرر نه دیگ ماند نه ابا
Water must be there and skill too, in order that the (contents of the) pot may be safely cooked in boiling.1380
آب حاضر باید و فرهنگ نیز ** تا پزد آب دیگ سالم در ازیز