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
In what work are you (employed), and for what (purpose) are you bought? What (sort of) bird are you, and with what (digestive) are you eaten?
در چه کاری تو و بهر چت خرند ** تو چه مرغی و ترا با چه خورند