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
Mount beyond this ship of hagglers to the shop of Bounty where God is the purchaser.1265
زین دکان با مکاسان برتر آ ** تا دکان فضل که الله اشتری
(There) that Gracious One hath purchased the piece of goods that no people would look at on account of its shabbiness.
کالهای که هیچ خلقش ننگرید ** از خلاقت آن کریم آن را خرید
With Him no base coin is rejected, for His object in buying is not (to make a) profit.
هیچ قلبی پیش او مردود نیست ** زانک قصدش از خریدن سود نیست
Return to the tale of the old woman.
رجوع به داستان آن کمپیر
Since that (crone who was faded as) autumn desired to be wed, that lustful one plucked out the hair of her eyebrows. [Since that (crone who was faded as) autumn desired to be wed, that one (who was) desirous of a (drawn back) foreskin plucked out the hair of her eyebrows.]
چون عروسی خواست رفتن آن خریف ** موی ابرو پاک کرد آن مستخیف
The old woman took the mirror (and held it) before her face, that she might beautify her cheeks and face and mouth.
پیش رو آیینه بگرفت آن عجوز ** تا بیاراید رخ و رخسار و پوز
She rubbed (them) gleefully (with) rouge several times, (but) the creases of her face did not become more concealed,1270
چند گلگونه بمالید از بطر ** سفرهی رویش نشد پوشیدهتر
(So) that filthy (hag) was cutting out portions of the Holy Book and sticking them on her face,
عشرهای مصحف از جا میبرید ** میبچفسانید بر رو آن پلید
In order that the creases of her face might be hidden, and that she might become the bezel in the ring of fair (women).
تا که سفرهی روی او پنهان شود ** تا نگین حلقهی خوبان شود