(When) I cried ‘Alas,’ my ‘Alas’ became a rope, and the rope was let down into my well.
آه کردم چون رسن شد آه من ** گشت آویزان رسن در چاه من
I clutched that rope and climbed out: I became glad and strong and stout and rosy.
آن رسن بگرفتم و بیرون شدم ** شاد و زفت و فربه و گلگون شدم
(Formerly) I was lying in misery at the bottom of a well: now I am not contained in the whole world.
در بن چاهی همی‌بودم زبون ** در همه عالم نمی‌گنجم کنون
Praises be unto Thee, O God! Thou didst suddenly put me afar from sorrow.
آفرینها بر تو بادا ای خدا ** ناگهان کردی مرا از غم جدا
If the tip of every hair of me should gain a tongue (power to speak), (yet) the thanks due to Thee are inexpressible.2315
گر سر هر موی من یابد زبان ** شکرهای تو نیاید در بیان
Amidst these gardens and fountains I am crying to the people, ‘Oh, would that my folk did but know!’”
می‌زنم نعره درین روضه و عیون ** خلق را یا لیت قومی یعلمون
How the princess again invited Nasúh to shampoo her, after his repentance had taken firm hold and was accepted (by God), and how he made an excuse and refused to comply.
باز خواندن شه‌زاده نصوح را از بهر دلاکی بعد از استحکام توبه و قبول توبه و بهانه کردن او و دفع گفتن
Afterwards some one came (to Nasúh), saying, “The daughter of our sovereign graciously invites thee.
بعد از آن آمد کسی کز مرحمت ** دختر سلطان ما می‌خواندت
The King's daughter invites thee: come and wash her head now, O devout one.
دختر شاهت همی‌خواند بیا ** تا سرش شویی کنون ای پارسا
Her heart desires no shampooer except thee to massage her or wash her with clay.”
جز تو دلاکی نمی‌خواهد دلش ** که بمالد یا بشوید با گلش
He answered, “Begone, begone! My hand is not in practice, and thy (friend) Nasúh is now fallen sick.2320
گفت رو رو دست من بی‌کار شد ** وین نصوح تو کنون بیمار شد
Go, look for some one else hastily and speedily, for by God my hand has gone out of business.”
رو کسی دیگر بجو اشتاب و تفت ** که مرا والله دست از کار رفت
(Then) he said to himself, “My sin passed beyond (all) bounds: how should that terror and anguish (ever) go from my mind?
با دل خود گفت کز حد رفت جرم ** از دل من کی رود آن ترس و گرم
I died (to self) once (and for all), and (then) I came back (to spiritual life): I tasted the bitterness of death and non-existence.
من بمردم یک ره و باز آمدم ** من چشیدم تلخی مرگ و عدم
I have turned to God with real repentance: I will not break (that vow) till my soul shall be parted from my body.
توبه‌ای کردم حقیقت با خدا ** نشکنم تا جان شدن از تن جدا
After such a tribulation, whose foot should move towards danger a second time, unless it be (the foot of) an ass?”2325
بعد آن محنت کرا بار دگر ** پا رود سوی خطر الا که خر
Story demonstrating that (when) a person repents and feels remorse and then forgets his feelings of remorse and tries again what he has tried (before), he falls into everlasting perdition. Unless his repentance be reinforced by a (great) firmness and strength and by a (great) sweetness and acceptance (experienced inwardly), it is like a rootless tree, more faded and withered every day. We take refuge with God (from that).
حکایت در بیان آنک کسی توبه کند و پشیمان شود و باز آن پشیمانیها را فراموش کند و آزموده را باز آزماید در خسارت ابد افتد چون توبه‌ی او را ثباتی و قوتی و حلاوتی و قبولی مدد نرسد چون درخت بی‌بیخ هر روز زردتر و خشک‌تر نعوذ بالله
(Once) there was a washerman, who had an ass with a sore on its back and empty-bellied and lean.
گازری بود و مر او را یک خری ** پشت ریش اشکم تهی و لاغری
(He kept it) in ground covered with stones, where no grass grew: from morning till night it went without food and shelter.
در میان سنگ لاخ بی‌گیاه ** روز تا شب بی‌نوا و بی‌پناه
Except water, there was nothing for it to eat or drink: the ass was in that miserable state by day and by night.
بهر خوردن جز که آب آنجا نبود ** روز و شب بد خر در آن کور و کبود
In the neighbourhood was a reed-bed and a jungle, where a lion lived whose occupation was hunting.
آن حوالی نیستان و بیشه بود ** شیر بود آنجا که صیدش پیشه بود
A battle took place between the lion and a fierce elephant: the lion was wounded and disabled from going to hunt.2330
شیر را با پیل نر جنگ اوفتاد ** خسته شد آن شیر و ماند از اصطیاد
On account of his weakness he was unable to hunt for some time, and the (smaller) wild animals were deprived of their morning-meal;
مدتی وا ماند زان ضعف از شکار ** بی‌نوا ماندند دد از چاشت‌خوار
For they used to eat the lion's leavings: when the lion became ill they suffered distress.
زانک باقی‌خوار شیر ایشان بدند ** شیر چون رنجور شد تنگ آمدند
The lion gave orders to a fox, saying, “Go and hunt an ass for me.
شیر یک روباه را فرمود رو ** مر خری را بهر من صیاد شو
If you find an ass round about the meadow, go, charm him with specious talk, beguile him, and bring him (here).
گر خری یابی به گرد مرغزار ** رو فسونش خوان فریبانش بیار
As soon as I gain some strength from (eating) the flesh of the ass, then afterwards I will seize another victim.2335
چون بیابم قوتی از گوشت خر ** پس بگیرم بعد از آن صیدی دگر