Return (from the digression) and tell the story of the sick man and the wise physician whose nature was to palliate.
باز گرد و قصه‌ی رنجور گو ** با طبیب آگه ستارخو
He felt his pulse and ascertained his state (of health): (he saw) that it was absurd to hope for his recovery.
نبض او بگرفت و واقف شد ز حال ** که امید صحت او بد محال
He said, “Do whatever your heart desires, in order that this old malady may quit your body.
گفت هر چت دل بخواهد آن بکن ** تا رود از جسمت این رنج کهن
Do not withhold anything that your inclination craves, lest your self-restraint and abstinence turn to gripes.
هرچه خواهد خاطر تو وا مگیر ** تا نگردد صبر و پرهیزت زحیر
Know that self-restraint and abstinence are injurious to this disease: proffer to your heart whatever it may desire.1325
صبر و پرهیز این مرض را دان زیان ** هرچه خواهد دل در آرش در میان
O uncle, (it was) in reference to a sick man like this (that) God most High said, ‘Do what ye will.”
این چنین رنجور را گفت ای عمو ** حق تعالی اعملوا ما شتم
He (the sick man) said, “(Now) go; look you, my dear nephew, I am going for a walk on the bank of the river.”
گفت رو هین خیر بادت جان عم ** من تماشای لب جو می‌روم
He was strolling beside the water, as his heart desired, in order that he might find the door to health opened to him.
بر مراد دل همی‌گشت او بر آب ** تا که صحت را بیابد فتح باب
On the river-bank a Súfí was seated, washing his hands and face and cleansing himself more and more.
بر لب جو صوفیی بنشسته بود ** دست و رو می‌شست و پاکی می‌فزود
He saw the nape of his (the Súfí's) neck and, like a crazy man, felt a longing to give it a slap;1330
او قفااش دید چون تخییلیی ** کرد او را آرزوی سیلیی
(So) he raised his hand to inflict a blow on the nape of the pottage-worshipping Súfí,
بر قفای صوفی حمزه‌پرست ** راست می‌کرد از برای صفع دست
Saying (to himself), “The physician told me it would make me ill if I would not let my desire have its way.
کارزو را گر نرانم تا رود ** آن طبیبم گفت کان علت شود
I will give him a slap in quarrel, for (God hath said), ‘Do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction.’
سیلیش اندر برم در معرکه ** زانک لا تلقوا بایدی تهلکه
O such-and-such, this self-restraint and abstinence is (thy) destruction: give him a good blow, do not keep quiet like the others.”
تهلکه‌ست این صبر و پرهیز ای فلان ** خوش بکوبش تن مزن چون دیگران
When he slapped him, there was the sound of a crack: the Súfí cried, “Hey, hey, O rascally pimp!”1335
چون زدش سیلی برآمد یک طراق ** گفت صوفی هی هی ای قواد عاق
The Súfí was about to give him two or three blows with his fist and tear out his moustache and beard piecemeal (but refrained from doing so).
خواست صوفی تا دو سه مشتش زند ** سبلت و ریشش یکایک بر کند
Mankind are (like) sufferers from phthisis and without a remedy (for their disease), and through the Devil's deception they are passionately addicted to slapping (each other).
خلق رنجور دق و بیچاره‌اند ** وز خداع دیو سیلی باره‌اند
All (of them) are eager to injure the innocent and are seeking (to find) fault behind each others' backs.
جمله در ایذای بی‌جرمان حریص ** در قفای همدگر جویان نقیص
O you who strike the napes of the guiltless, don't you see the retribution (that is coming) behind you?
ای زننده بی‌گناهان را قفا ** در قفای خود نمی‌بینی جزا
O you who fancy that (indulgence of) desire is your (right) medicine and inflict slaps on the weak,1340
ای هوا را طب خود پنداشته ** بر ضعیفان صفع را بگماشته
He who told you that this is the cure (for your disease) mocked at you: ’tis he that guided Adam to the wheat,
بر تو خندید آنک گفتت این دواست ** اوست که آدم را به گندم رهنماست
Saying, “O ye twain who implore help, eat this grain as a remedy that ye may abide (in Paradise) for ever.”
که خورید این دانه او دو مستعین ** بهر دارو تا تکونا خالدین
He caused him (Adam) to stumble and gave him a slap on the nape: that slap recoiled and became a (penal) retribution for him (the Devil).
اوش لغزانید و او را زد قفا ** آن قفا وا گشت و گشت این را جزا
He caused him (Adam) to stumble terribly in backsliding, but God was his (Adam's) support and helper.
اوش لغزانید سخت اندر زلق ** لیک پشت و دستگیرش بود حق
Adam was (like) a mountain: (even) if he was filled with serpents (of sin), he is a mine of the antidote (to snake-poison) and was unhurt.1345
کوه بود آدم اگر پر مار شد ** کان تریاقست و بی‌اضرار شد