Recognise it as the root, clasp it to thy bosom, and be for ever delivered from the death of waiting to see.
اصل دان آن را بگیرش در کنار ** بازره دایم ز مرگ انتظار
How the Sultan (Mahmud) showed favour to Ayáz.
نواختن سلطان ایاز را
“O Ayáz, who art full of humbleness and sincere in all thy ways, thy sincerity is mightier than sea and mountain.
ای ایاز پر نیاز صدق‌کیش ** صدق تو از بحر و از کوهست بیش
For thee there is no stumbling in the hour of lust, so that thy reason, which resembles a mountain (in solidity), should go (hither and thither) like a straw;
نه به وقت شهوتت باشد عثار ** که رود عقل چو کوهت کاه‌وار
Nor in the hour of anger and vengeance do thy powers of long-suffering fail to hold fast and firm.”3710
نه به وقت خشم و کینه صبرهات ** سست گردد در قرار و در ثبات
Virilitas haec virilitas est, barba et penis non est; sin minus, rex virorum esset veretrum asini. [Manhood is this manliness, not (just) a beard and a penis; otherwise, an ass’s penis would be the king of men.]
مردی این مردیست نه ریش و ذکر ** ورنه بودی شاه مردان کیر خر
Whom has God in the Qur’an called men? How should there be room for this body there?
حق کرا خواندست در قرآن رجال ** کی بود این جسم را آنجا مجال
What worth has the animal soul? O father, come now, pass through the market of the butchers,
روح حیوان را چه قدرست ای پدر ** آخر از بازار قصابان گذر
(And you will see) a hundred thousand (sheeps’) heads laid on paunches (tripe), of which (heads) the value is less than (that of) the fat caudal part and tail.
صد هزاران سر نهاده بر شکم ** ارزشان از دنبه و از دم کم
Meretrix est (quaevis femina) cui penis impetu mens (tanquam) mus fiat, libido tanquam leo. [A prostitute is (one) who, due to the movement of a penis, (her) intellect becomes a mouse (and her) lust like a lion.]3715
روسپی باشد که از جولان کیر ** عقل او موشی شود شهوت چو شیر
How a father enjoined his daughter to take care lest she should become with child by her husband.
وصیت کردن پدر دختر را کی خود را نگهدار تا حامله نشوی از شوهرت
There was a Khwája who had a daughter with cheeks like (those of) Venus, a face like the moon, and a breast (white) as silver.
خواجه‌ای بودست او را دختری ** زهره‌خدی مه‌رخی سیمین‌بری
(When) she reached maturity, he gave his daughter to a husband: as regards social rank the husband was not a (good) match for her.
گشت بالغ داد دختر را به شو ** شو نبود اندر کفائت کفو او
When a melon is ripe it becomes watery and goes to waste and ruin unless you slice it.
خربزه چون در رسد شد آبناک ** گر بنشکافی تلف گردد هلاک
Since it was (a case of) necessity, he gave his daughter to one who was not (socially) her match, in fear of the evil (that might ensue).
چون ضرورت بود دختر را بداد ** او بناکفوی ز تخویف فساد
He said to his daughter, “Guard thyself from this new bridegroom, do not become with child;3720
For thy marriage to this beggar was (dictated) by necessity; there is no constancy in this vagabond fellow.
کز ضرورت بود عقد این گدا ** این غریب‌اشمار را نبود وفا
Of a sudden he will jump off and leave all behind: his child will remain on thy hands as a wrong (for which there is no redress).”
ناگهان به جهد کند ترک همه ** بر تو طفل او بماند مظلمه
The daughter replied, “O father, I will do service (to thee): thy counsel is acceptable and prized.”
گفت دختر کای پدر خدمت کنم ** هست پندت دل‌پذیر و مغتنم
Every two or three days the father would enjoin his daughter to take precautions;
هر دو روزی هر سه روزی آن پدر ** دختر خود را بفرمودی حذر
(Nevertheless) she suddenly became with child by him (her husband): how should it be (otherwise when) both the wife and the husband are young?.3725
حامله شد ناگهان دختر ازو ** چون بود هر دو جوان خاتون و شو
She kept it (the child) hidden from her father, (till) the child was five or six months old.
از پدر او را خفی می‌داشتش ** پنج ماهه گشت کودک یا که شش
(Then) the discovery was made. “What is this?” asked her father; “did not I tell thee to adopt (the practice of) withdrawal from him?
گشت پیدا گفت بابا چیست این ** من نگفتم که ازو دوری گزین
These injunctions of mine were (mere) wind, forsooth! My counsel and exhortations have been of no use to thee.”
این وصیتهای من خود باد بود ** که نکردت پند و وعظم هیچ سود
“Father,” said she, “how should I guard myself? Man and wife, beyond doubt, are (as) fire and cotton.
گفت بابا چون کنم پرهیز من ** آتش و پنبه‌ست بی‌شک مرد و زن
What means has the cotton of guarding itself from the fire, or when is there (any) carefulness and caution in the fire?”3730
پنبه را پرهیز از آتش کجاست ** یا در آتش کی حفاظست و تقاست
He replied, “I said, ‘noli te viro admovere, noli semen ejus recipere. [He replied, “I said, ‘don’t go to him (for sexual pleasure), don’t accept his sperm.]