He inquired (after his health, etc.) with a cordiality exceeding (even) that of the Turk, so that he planted in his (the Turk's) heart (feelings of) affection for him.
گرم پرسیدش ز حد ترک بیش ** تا فکند اندر دل او مهر خویش
When he (the Turk) heard from him a song like the nightingale's, he threw down before him the piece of Stamboul satin,1685
چون بدید از وی نوای بلبلی ** پیشش افکند اطلس استنبلی
Saying, ‘Cut this into a coat for the day of battle: (let it be) wide below my navel and tight above it—
که ببر این را قبای روز جنگ ** زیر نافم واسع و بالاش تنگ
Tight above, to show off my body (figure); wide below, so as not to hamper my legs.’
تنگ بالا بهر جسمآرای را ** زیر واسع تا نگیرد پای را
He replied, ‘O kindly man, I will do (you) a hundred services,’ and in (token of) accepting it (the commission) he laid his hand upon his eye.
گفت صد خدمت کنم ای ذو وداد ** در قبولش دست بر دیده نهاد
Then he measured (the satin) and inspected the working surface (of it) and, after that, opened his lips in idle chat.
پس بپیمود و بدید او روی کار ** بعد از آن بگشاد لب را در فشار
Of stories about other Amírs and of the bounties and gifts of those persons1690
از حکایتهای میران دگر ** وز کرمها و عطاء آن نفر
And about the misers and their (mean) economies—(of all this) he gave a sample for the purpose of (exciting) laughter.
وز بخیلان و ز تحشیراتشان ** از برای خنده هم داد او نشان
In a flash he whipped out a pair of scissors and went on cutting while his lips were full of tales and beguiling talk.
همچو آتش کرد مقراضی برون ** میبرید و لب پر افسانه و فسون
How the tailor told laughable jests, and how the narrow eyes of the Turk were closed by the violence of his laughter, and how the tailor found an opportunity (to steal).
مضاحک گفتن درزی و ترک را از قوت خنده بسته شدن دو چشم تنگ او و فرصت یافتن درزی
The Turk began to laugh at the stories, and at that moment his narrow eyes closed.
ترک خندیدن گرفت از داستان ** چشم تنگش گشت بسته آن زمان
He (the tailor) filched a shred (of satin) and put it under his thigh, (where it was) hidden from all living beings except God.
پارهای دزدید و کردش زیر ران ** از جز حق از همه احیا نهان
God saw it, but He is disposed to cover up (sins); yet when you carry (them) beyond bounds He is a tell-tale.1695
حق همیدید آن ولی ستارخوست ** لیک چون از حد بری غماز اوست
From his delight in his (the tailor's) anecdotes the Turk's former boast went out of his head.
ترک را از لذت افسانهاش ** رفت از دل دعوی پیشانهاش
What satin? What boast? What wager? The Turk is intoxicated with the jokes of the pasha.
اطلس چه دعوی چه رهن چه ** ترک سرمستست در لاغ اچی
The Turk implored him, crying, ‘For God's sake go on telling jokes, for they are meat to me.’
لابه کردش ترک کز بهر خدا ** لاغ میگو که مرا شد مغتذا
(Then) the rascal told such a ridiculous story that he (the Turk) fell on his back in an explosion of laughter.
گفت لاغی خندمینی آن دغا ** که فتاد از قهقهه او بر قفا
He (the tailor) swiftly clapped a shred of satin to the hem of his under-breeches, while the Turk was paying no attention and greedily sucking in (absorbing) the jests.1700
پارهای اطلس سبک بر نیفه زد ** ترک غافل خوش مضاحک میمزد
Still (continuing his entreaties), the Turk of Khitá said for the third time, ‘Tell me a joke for God's sake!’
همچنین بار سوم ترک خطا ** گفت لاغی گوی از بهر خدا
He (the tailor) told a story more laughable than (those which he had related) on the two previous occasions, and made this Turk entirely his prey.
گفت لاغی خندمینتر زان دو بار ** کرد او این ترک را کلی شکار
His eyes shut, his reason flown, bewildered, the boastful Turk was intoxicated with guffaws.
چشم بسته عقل جسته مولهه ** مست ترک مدعی از قهقهه
Then for the third time he (the tailor) filched a strip from the coat (which he was cutting), since the Turk's laughter gave him ample scope (for his dexterity).
پس سوم بار از قبا دزدید شاخ ** که ز خندهش یافت میدان فراخ
When for the fourth time the Turk of Khitá was demanding a jest from the master(-tailor),1705
چون چهارم بار آن ترک خطا ** لاغ از آن استا همیکرد اقتضا
The master took pity on him and put aside (abandoned) artfulness and injustice.
رحم آمد بر وی آن استاد را ** کرد در باقی فن و بیداد را
He said (to himself), ‘This infatuated man has a great desire for these (facetious tales), not knowing what a loss and swindle they are (for him).’
گفت مولع گشت این مفتون درین ** بیخبر کین چه خسارست و غبین
(Nevertheless) he (the Turk) showered kisses on (the face and eyes of) the master, crying, ‘For God's sake tell me a story!’
بوسهافشان کرد بر استاد او ** که بمن بهر خدا افسانه گو