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
(’Tis) like the person of a hypocrite, (one who is) handsome and dignified; (but) in the basket you will find nothing except a snake.
چون تن زراق خوب و با وقار ** اندر آن سله نیابی غیر مار
To-morrow I will take the chest into the street and burn it in the midst of the market at the cross-ways,
من برم صندوق را فردا به کو ** پس بسوزم در میان چارسو
That true believer and Zoroastrian and Jew may see there was nothing in this chest but (cause for) cursing.”
تا ببیند مومن و گبر و جهود ** که درین صندوق جز لعنت نبود
“O husband,” cried the woman, “come now, give up this (idea)!” (However), he swore several times that he would do just as he had said.
گفت زن هی در گذر ای مرد ازین ** خورد سوگندان که نکنم جز چنین
Early (next morning) he (went) like the wind, fetched a porter, and immediately put the chest on his back.4490
از پگه حمال آورد او چو باد ** زود آن صندوق بر پشتش نهاد
(He set off with it, while) the cadi inside the chest shouted in an agony (of terror), “O porter! O porter!”
اندر آن صندوق قاضی از نکال ** بانگ میزد که ای حمال و ای حمال
The porter looked to the right and the left to see from what direction the shouts and warnings were coming.
کرد آن حمال راست و چپ نظر ** کز چه سو در میرسد بانک و خبر
“I wonder,” said he, “is it a hátif, this voice which is calling me, or is it a peri (jinní) summoning me mysteriously?”
هاتفست این داعی من ای عجب ** یا پریام میکند پنهان طلب
When the shouts followed one another in succession and increased, he said, “’Tis not a hátif,” and recovered himself.
چون پیاپی گشت آن آواز و بیش ** گفت هاتف نیست باز آمد به خویش
At last he perceived that the shouts and cries for help came from the chest and that somebody was concealed in it.4495
عاقبت دانست کان بانگ و فغان ** بد ز صندوق و کسی در وی نهان