English    Türkçe    فارسی   

6
269-293

  • The little slave, who was in the house, immediately became ill and weak and poorly.
  • He was wasting away like one suffering from phthisis: no physician could recognise his ailment. 270
  • Reason declared that the malady had its source in his heart (and that) medicine for the body is useless for heart-ache.
  • The little slave breathed no word of his (real) state and did not tell what was the cause of the pangs in his breast.
  • One night the husband said to his wife, “Ask him privately what is the matter with him.
  • You are in the place of a mother to him: maybe he will disclose his trouble to you.”
  • When the mistress heard these words, next day she went to the slave. 275
  • Then the dame combed his head very fondly with many endearments and signs of friendliness.
  • In the fashion of fond mothers she soothed him until he began to explain,
  • Saying, “I did not expect this from you—that you would give your daughter to a cross-grained stranger.
  • She is my master's child, and I am heart-sick: is it not a shame that she should go elsewhere (as a bride)?”
  • The mistress, (impelled) by the anger that rose in her, was about to strike him and hurl him down from the roof, 280
  • Saying (to herself), “Who is he, a whoreson Hindú, that he should desire a Khwája's daughter?”
  • (But) she said, “Patience is best,” and restrained herself; (afterwards) she said to the Khwája, “Listen to this wonderful thing!
  • Such a wretched slave a traitor! (And) we thought he could be trusted!”
  • How the Khwája bade the girl's mother be patient, saying, “Don't scold the slave: without scolding him I will make him abandon this desire in such a way that neither will the spit be burnt nor the meat be left uncooked.
  • “Have patience,” said the Khwája: “tell him, ‘We will break off (the match) with him (the prospective bridegroom) and give her to you,’
  • That perchance I may banish this (hope) from his mind: watch and see how I will thwart him. 285
  • Gladden his heart and say, ‘Know for sure that our daughter is really your (destined) spouse.
  • O goodly wooer, we didn't know (that you desired her): (now), since we know (that), you are the most worthy.
  • Our fire is in our own hearth: Laylá (the bride) is ours, and you are our Majnún (bridegroom).’
  • (Tell him this) in order that happy fancies and thoughts may affect him: sweet thoughts make a man fat.
  • An animal is made fat, but (only) by fodder; man is fattened by honour and eminence. 290
  • Man is fattened through his ear; an animal is fattened through its gullet and by eating and drinking.”
  • The mistress said, “Such a vile disgrace! How indeed shall my lips move in this matter?
  • Why should I talk drivel like this for his sake? Let the devilish traitor die!”