O beloved, it is my duty (to provide you with) money and clothes: you get both these from me and they are not insufficient.”
نفقه و کسوه‌ست واجب ای صنم ** از منت این هر دو هست و نیست کم
The wife showed (him) the sleeve of her chemise: the chemise was very coarse and dirty.
آستین پیرهن بنمود زن ** بس درشت و پر وسخ بد پیرهن
“It is so rough,” said she, “it eats (wounds) my body: does any one get a garment of this kind for any one?”
گفت از سختی تنم را می‌خورد ** کس کسی را کسوه زین سان آورد
He said, “O wife, I will ask you one question. I am a poor man: this is all I know (how to do).
گفت ای زن یک سالت می‌کنم ** مرد درویشم همین آمد فنم
This (chemise) is rough and coarse and disagreeable, but think (well), O thoughtful (anxious) wife!1765
این درشتست و غلیظ و ناپسند ** لیک بندیش ای زن اندیشه‌مند
Is this (chemise) rougher and nastier, or divorce? Is this (chemise) more odious to you, or separation?”
این درشت و زشت‌تر یا خود طلاق ** این ترا مکروه‌تر یا خود فراق
Even so, O Khwája who art reviling on account of affliction and poverty and distress and tribulations,
هم‌چنان ای خواجه‌ی تشنیع زن ** از بلا و فقر و از رنج و محن
No doubt this renunciation of sensuality gives bitter pain, but ’tis better than the bitterness of being far from God.
لا شک این ترک هوا تلخی‌دهست ** لیک از تلخی بعد حق بهست
If fighting (against the flesh) and fasting are hard and rough, yet these are better than being far from Him who inflicts tribulation.
گر جهاد و صوم سختست و خشن ** لیک این بهتر ز بعد ممتحن
How should pain endure for a single moment when the Giver of favours says to thee, “How art thou, O My sick one?”1770
رنج کی ماند دمی که ذوالمنن ** گویدت چونی تو ای رنجور من
And (even) if He say (it) not, because thou hast not the understanding and knowledge (needed) for it, yet thy inward feeling (of supplication) is (equivalent to His) inquiring (after thee).
ور نگوید کت نه آن فهم و فن است ** لیک آن ذوق تو پرسش کردنست
Those beauteous ones who are spiritual physicians turn towards the sick to inquire (after them);
آن ملیحان که طبیبان دل‌اند ** سوی رنجوران به پرسش مایل‌اند
And if they be afraid of (incurring) disgrace and (loss of) reputation, they devise some means and send a message;
وز حذر از ننگ و از نامی کنند ** چاره‌ای سازند و پیغامی کنند
Or if not, that (care for the sick) is pondered in their hearts: no beloved is unaware (forgetful) of his lover.
ورنه در دلشان بود آن مفتکر ** نیست معشوقی ز عاشق بی‌خبر
O thou who desirest (to hear) a wondrous tale, read the story of them that play the game of love.1775
ای تو جویای نوادر داستان ** هم فسانه‌ی عشق‌بازان را بخوان
Thou hast been boiling mightily during (all) this long time, (and yet), O dried meat, thou hast not even become half-cooked.
بس بجوشیدی درین عهد مدید ** ترک‌جوشی هم نگشتی ای قدید
During a (whole) life-time thou hast seen the justice and jurisdiction (of God), and then (after all) thou art more ignorant than the blind.
دیده‌ای عمری تو داد و داوری ** وانگه از نادیدگان ناشی‌تری
Whoever serves Him as a pupil becomes a master, (but) thou hast gone backwards, O blind fool!
هر که شاگردیش کرد استاد شد ** تو سپس‌تر رفته‌ای ای کور لد
Verily thou hast learned nothing from thy parents, nor hast thou taken a lesson from night and day.
خود نبود از والدینت اختبار ** هم نبودت عبرت از لیل و نهار
Parable.
مثل
A (Súfí) gnostic asked an old Christian priest, “Sire, art thou the more advanced in age, or thy beard?”1780
عارفی پرسید از آن پیر کشیش ** که توی خواجه مسن‌تر یا که ریش
He replied, “Nay; I was born before it: I have seen much of the world without a beard.”
گفت نه من پیش ازو زاییده‌ام ** بی ز ریشی بس جهان را دیده‌ام
He (the Súfí) said, “Thy beard has turned white, it has changed, (but) thy evil disposition has not become good.”
گفت ریشت شد سپید از حال گشت ** خوی زشت تو نگردیدست وشت
It (thy beard) was born after thee and (yet) it has surpassed thee: thou art so dry (vain and unprofitable) because of thy passion for tharíd.
او پس از تو زاد و از تو بگذرید ** تو چنین خشکی ز سودای ثرید
Thou art (still) of the same complexion with which thou wast born: thou hast not taken one step forward.
تو بر آن رنگی که اول زاده‌ای ** یک قدم زان پیش‌تر ننهاده‌ای
Still thou art (as) sour buttermilk in the churn: in sooth thou hast not extracted any oil (butter) from it.1785
هم‌چنان دوغی ترش در معدنی ** خود نگردی زو مخلص روغنی