He (the Khwája) said, “If the house is the one that I have seen (recently), may God bring thee there, O squalid wretch!”
گفت خان ار آنست که من دیده‌ام ** حق ترا آنجا رساند ای دژم
Worthless folk humiliate every story-teller: if his words are lofty, they make them low;1240
هر محدث را خسان باذل کنند ** حرفش ار عالی بود نازل کنند
For the tale is (lofty or low) in proportion to (the understanding of) the hearer: the tailor cuts the coat according to the Khwája's (customer's) figure.
زانک قدر مستمع آید نبا ** بر قد خواجه برد درزی قبا
[Description of the old woman.]
صفت آن عجوز
Since the audience is not free from such reproach, there is no means of avoiding low and undignified talk.
چونک مجلس بی چنین پیغاره نیست ** از حدیث پست نازل چاره نیست
Hark, redeem this topic (of discourse) from pawn: return to the tale of the old woman.
واستان هین این سخن را از گرو ** سوی افسانه‌ی عجوزه باز رو
When he (any one) has become advanced in years and is not a man (adept) in this Way, bestow the name of “aged crone” upon him.
چون مسن گشت و درین ره نیست مرد ** تو بنه نامش عجوز سال‌خورد
He has neither (any spiritual) capital and basis, nor is he capable of receiving (such a) stock-in-trade.1245
نه مرورا راس مال و پایه‌ای ** نه پذیرای قبول مایه‌ای
He is neither a giver nor a receiver of (spiritual) delight; in him there is neither reality nor (the power of) absorbing reality.
نه دهنده نی پذیرنده‌ی خوشی ** نه درو معنی و نه معنی‌کشی
(He has) neither tongue nor ear nor understanding and insight nor consciousness nor unconsciousness nor reflections;
نه زبان نه گوش نه عقل و بصر ** نه هش و نه بیهشی و نه فکر
Neither humble supplication nor any beauty (with which) to show pride: his (whole interior), coat on coat, is stinking, like an onion.
نه نیاز و نه جمالی بهر ناز ** تو بتویش گنده مانند پیاز
He has not traversed any path, nor (has he) the foot for (any power to traverse) the path: that shameless one has neither (inward) glow nor burning (passion) and sighs.
نه رهی ببریده او نه پای راه ** نه تبش آن قحبه را نه سوز و آه
Story of the dervish to whom, whenever he begged anything from a certain house, he (the owner) used to say, “It is not (to be had here).”
قصه‌ی درویشی کی از آن خانه هرچه می‌خواست می‌گفت نیست
A beggar came to a house and asked for a piece of dry bread or a piece of moist (new) bread.1250
سایلی آمد به سوی خانه‌ای ** خشک نانه خواست یا تر نانه‌ای
The owner of the house said, “Where is bread in this place? Are you crazy? How is this (house) a baker's shop?”
گفت صاحب‌خانه نان اینجا کجاست ** خیره‌ای کی این دکان نانباست
“At least,” he begged, “get me a little bit of fat.” “Why,” said he, “it isn't a butcher's shop.”
He said, “O master of the house, give me a pittance of flour.” “Do you think this is a mill?” he replied.
گفت پاره‌ی آرد ده ای کدخدا ** گفت پنداری که هست این آسیا
“Well then,” said he, “give me some water from the reservoir.” “Why,” he replied, “it isn't a river or a watering-place.”
گفت باری آب ده از مکرعه ** گفت آخر نیست جو یا مشرعه
Whatever he asked for, from bread to bran, he (the householder) was mocking and deriding him.1255
هر چه او درخواست از نان یا سبوس ** چربکی می‌گفت و می‌کردش فسوس
The beggar went in and drew up his skirt: in ea domo voluit consulto cacare. [The beggar went in and drew up his skirt: he wanted to defecate deliberately inside the house.]
آن گدا در رفت و دامن بر کشید ** اندر آن خانه بحسبت خواست رید
He (the householder) cried, “Hey, hey!” “Be quiet, O morose man,” said he, “ut in hoc loco deserto alvum exonerem. [He (the householder) cried, “Hey, hey!” “Be quiet, O morose man,” said he, “so that I may relieve myself inside this desolate place.]
گفت هی هی گفت تن زن ای دژم ** تا درین ویرانه خود فارغ کنم
Since there is no means of living (zístan) here, upon a house like this cacare (rístan) oportet.” [Since there is no means of living (zístan) here, one should defecate (rístan) upon a house such as this.”]
چون درینجا نیست وجه زیستن ** بر چنین خانه بباید ریستن
Since you are not a falcon, so as to (be able to) catch the prey, (a falcon) hand-trained for the King's hunting;
چون نه‌ای بازی که گیری تو شکار ** دست آموز شکار شهریار
Nor a peacock painted with a hundred (beautiful) designs, so that (all) eyes should be illumined by the picture which you present;1260
نیستی طاوس با صد نقش بند ** که به نقشت چشمها روشن کنند
Nor a parrot, so that when sugar is given to you, (all) ears should bend to (listen to) your sweet talk;
هم نه‌ای طوطی که چون قندت دهند ** گوش سوی گفت شیرینت نهند
Nor a nightingale to sing, like a lover, sweetly and plaintively in the meadow or the tulip-garden;
هم نه‌ای بلبل که عاشق‌وار زار ** خوش بنالی در چمن یا لاله‌زار
Nor a hoopoe to bring messages, nor are you like a stork to make your nest on high—
هم نه‌ای هدهد که پیکیها کنی ** نه چو لک‌لک که وطن بالا کنی