Every night in the villages (countryside) are new-comers who have no refuge there save God.
کل لیل فی القری وفد جدید ** ما لهم ثم سوی الله محید
The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
تخمه بودند آن دو بیگانه ز خور ** بود صایم روز آن مومن مگر
At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
چون نماز شام آن حلوا رسید ** بود مومن مانده در جوع شدید
The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
آن دو کس گفتند ما از خور پریم ** امشبش بنهیم و فردایش خوریم
To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.”2405
صبر گیریم امشب از خور تن زنیم ** بهر فردا لوت را پنهان کنیم
The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
گفت مومن امشب این خورده شود ** صبر را بنهیم تا فردا بود
Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
پس بدو گفتند زین حکمتگری ** قصد تو آن است تا تنها خوری
“O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
گفت ای یاران نه که ما سه تنیم ** چون خلاف افتاد تا قسمت کنیم
Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
هرکه خواهد قسم خود بر جان زند ** هرکه خواهد قسم خود پنهان کند
The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).”2410
آن دو گفتندش ز قسمت در گذر ** گوش کن قسام فیالنار از خبر
He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”
گفت قسام آن بود کو خویش را ** کرد قسمت بر هوا و بر خدا
Thou art God's property and His share entirely: (if) thou givest the share (of God) to another, thou art a dualist.
ملک حق و جمله قسم اوستی ** قسم دیگر را دهی دوگوستی
This lion would have prevailed over the curs, if it had not been the turn of those evil-natured ones (to prevail).
این اسد غالب شدی هم بر سگان ** گر نبودی نوبت آن بدرگان
’Twas their intention that the Moslem should suffer pain and pass the night in want of food.
قصدشان آن کان مسلمان غم خورد ** شب برو در بینوایی بگذرد
He was overpowered: he said, with resignation and acquiescence, “My friends, I hear and obey.”2415
بود مغلوب او به تسلیم و رضا ** گفت سمعا طاعة اصحابنا
So they slept (all) that night, and in the morning they rose and dressed themselves,
پس بخفتند آن شب و برخاستند ** بامدادان خویش را آراستند
And washed their faces and mouths; and each one had a (different) method and practice in his devotions.
روی شستند و دهان و هر یکی ** داشت اندر ورد راه و مسلکی
For a while each one applied himself to his devotions, seeking favour from God.
یک زمانی هر کسی آورد رو ** سوی ورد خویش از حق فضلجو
True believer and Christian, Jew and Guebre and Magian— the faces of them all are (turned) towards that mighty Sultan.
مومن و ترسا جهود و گبر و مغ ** جمله را رو سوی آن سلطان الغ
Nay, stone and earth and mountain and water have their invisible recourse to God.2420
بلک سنگ و خاک و کوه و آب را ** هست واگشت نهانی با خدا
This topic is infinite. At that time the three companions looked on one another friendlily,
این سخن پایان ندارد هر سه یار ** رو به هم کردند آن دم یاروار
And one (of them) said, “Let each (of us) relate what he dreamed last night.
آن یکی گفتا که هر یک خواب خویش ** آنچ دید او دوش گو آور به پیش
Let him who had the best dream eat this (sweetmeat): let the most excellent carry off the share of every one that is excelled (by him).”
هرکه خوابش بهتر این را او خورد ** قسم هر مفضول را افضل برد
He who mounts highest in (the scale of) reason—his eating is (equivalent to) the eating of all (his inferiors).
آنک اندر عقل بالاتر رود ** خوردن او خوردن جمله بود
His luminous spirit is supreme: ’tis enough for the rest of them to tend (cherish) him.2425
فوق آمد جان پر انوار او ** باقیان را بس بود تیمار او