Take refuge in the autumn gale of fear of God: let last year's flowers be shed;
در خزان و باد خوف حق گریز ** آن شقایقهای پارین را بریز
(For) these flowers prevent the new buds (from blossoming), and it is (only) for the sake of their growth that the tree of the heart exists.
این شقایق منع نو اشکوفههاست ** که درخت دل برای آن نماست
Put thyself to sleep (and escape) from this (vain) thinking: (then) lift up thy head from sleep into (spiritual) wakefulness.
خویش را در خواب کن زین افتکار ** سر ز زیر خواب در یقظت بر آر
Like the Men of the Cave (the Seven Sleepers), pass quickly, O Khwája, into (the state of those who are) awake, though thou wouldst deem them asleep.
همچو آن اصحاب کهف ای خواجه زود ** رو به ایقاظا که تحسبهم رقود
“O adorable one,” said the cadi, “what can be contrived?” She answered, “This (thy) handmaid's house is quite empty.4465
گفت قاضی ای صنم معمول چیست ** گفت خانهی این کنیزک بس تهیست
The enemy has gone into the country, and the caretaker is not there either: it is a very good place for meeting in private.
خصم در ده رفت و حارس نیز نیست ** بهر خلوت سخت نیکو مسکنیست
Come there to-night if possible: what one does by night is (done) without (the intention of) making (people) hear of it or see it;
امشب ار امکان بود آنجا بیا ** کار شب بی سمعه است و بیریا
(At that time) all the spies are intoxicated with the wine of sleep: all have been beheaded (and left as though lifeless) by the negro, Night.”
جمله جاسوسان ز خمر خواب مست ** زنگی شب جمله را گردن زدست
The sugar-lipped (damsel) chanted wondrous spells over the cadi—and then with what (bewitching) lips!
خواند بر قاضی فسونهای عجب ** آن شکرلب وانگهانی از چه لب
How often did Iblís palaver with Adam!—but when Eve told him to eat, then (and not till then) did he eat.4470
چند با آدم بلیس افسانه کرد ** چون حوا گفتش بخور آنگاه خورد
The first blood (shed) in this world of iniquity and justice was shed by Qábíl (Cain) for the sake of a woman.
اولین خون در جهان ظلم و داد ** از کف قابیل بهر زن فتاد
Whenever Noah was frying meat in the frying-pan, Wáhila (his wife) would throw stones at the frying-pan,
نوح چون بر تابه بریان ساختی ** واهله بر تابه سنگ انداختی
And his wife's plotting would defeat his (missionary) work, (so that) the clear water of his exhortation would become turbid;
مکر زن بر کار او چیره شدی ** آب صاف وعظ او تیره شدی
(For) she used to send secret messages to the (unbelieving) folk, saying, “Preserve your religion from (being corrupted by) these erring men!”
قوم را پیغام کردی از نهان ** که نگه دارید دین زین گمرهان
How the cadi went to the house of Júhí's wife, and how Júhí knocked angrily at the door, and how the cadi took refuge in a chest, etc.
رفتن قاضی به خانهی زن جوحی و حلقه زدن جوحی به خشم بر در و گریختن قاضی در صندوقی الی آخره
The guile of woman is infinite. The sagacious cadi went at night to the wife ut cum ea coiret. [The guile of woman is infinite. The sagacious cadi went at night to the wife (of Júhí) for sexual intercourse.]4475
مکر زن پایان ندارد رفت شب ** قاضی زیرک سوی زن بهر دب
The wife set two (lighted) candles and the dessert for his entertainment. “(I can do) without this drink,” said he: “I am intoxicated (with love).”
زن دو شمع و نقل مجلس راست کرد ** گفت ما مستیم بی این آبخورد
At that moment Júhí came and knocked at the door: the cadi looked for a place into which he could slink for refuge.
اندر آن دم جوحی آمد در بزد ** جست قاضی مهربی تا در خزد
He saw no hiding-place but a chest: in his fright the man went into the chest.
غیر صندوقی ندید او خلوتی ** رفت در صندوق از خوف آن فتی
(Then) Júhí came in and said (to his wife), “O spouse, O thou who art my plague (both) in spring and autumn,
اندر آمد جوحی و گفت ای حریف ** اتی وبالم در ربیع و در خریف
What do I possess that is not sacrificed to thee: (why, then, is it) that thou art always crying out at me?4480
من چه دارم که فداات نیست آن ** که ز من فریاد داری هر زمان
Thou hast let loose thy tongue at my dry crusts: now thou callest me ‘pauper,’ now ‘cuckold.’
بر لب خشکم گشادستی زبان ** گاه مفلس خوانیم گه قلتبان
If, my dear, I suffer from these two maladies, one (the latter) comes from thee and the other from God.
این دو علت گر بود ای جان مرا ** آن یکی از تست و دیگر از خدا
What do I possess but that chest, which is a source of suspicion and a ground for (evil) surmise?
من چه دارم غیر آن صندوق که آن ** هست مایهی تهمت و پایهی گمان
People think I keep gold in it, and because of these (false) opinions charity is withheld from me.
خلق پندارند زر دارم درون ** داد واگیرند از من زین ظنون
The appearance of the chest is very pleasing, but it is quite empty of goods and silver and gold.4485
صورت صندوق بس زیباست لیک ** از عروض و سیم و ز خالیست نیک