(But) one whose sense (of smell) is keen can tell by the vapour (issuing from the closed pot) whether it is a pot of sweetmeat or sour sikbáj (stew flavoured with vinegar). از بخار آن بداند تیزهش ** دیگ شیرینی ز سکباج ترش
When a man taps a new pot with his hand at the time when he is buying it, he detects the cracked one (by its sound). دست بر دیگ نوی چون زد فتی ** وقت بخریدن بدید اشکسته را
He (one of the three brothers) said (to the cadi), “I know a man at once by his mouth (speech); and if he do not speak, I know him within three days.” 4900 گفت دانم مرد را در حین ز پوز ** ور نگوید دانمش اندر سه روز
The second said, “I know him if he speak, and if he do not speak, I engage him in conversation.” وآن دگر گفت ار بگوید دانمش ** ور نگوید در سخن پیچانمش
He (the cadi) said, “(But) if he has (already) heard of this device (of yours), he will close his lips and take refuge in silence.” گفت اگر این مکر بشنیده بود ** لب ببندد در خموشی در رود
The case is like that of the mother who said to her child, “If a ghost come to you in the night, آنچنان که گفت مادر بچه را ** گر خیالی آیدت در شب فرا
Or if in a graveyard and frightful place you behold a black bogle full of rage, یا بگورستان و جای سهمگین ** تو خیالی بینی اسود پر ز کین
Keep a stout heart and rush at it, and immediately it will turn its face away from you.” 4905 دل قوی دار و بکن حمله برو ** او بگرداند ز تو در حال رو
“(But),” said the child, “suppose the devilish bogle's mother has said this (same thing) to it; گفت کودک آن خیال دیووش ** گر بدو این گفته باشد مادرش
(If) I rush at it, by its mother's orders it will fall on my neck: what shall I do then? حمله آرم افتد اندر گردنم ** ز امر مادر پس من آنگه چون کنم
You are teaching me to stand firm, (but) the ugly bogle has a mother too.” تو همی‌آموزیم که چست ایست ** آن خیال زشت را هم مادریست
The instructor of (the race of) devils and of mankind is the One (God): through Him the enemy prevails (even) if he is in small force. دیو و مردم را ملقن آن یکیست ** غالب از وی گردد ار خصم اندکیست
On whichever side that Gracious One may be, go and for God's sake, for God's sake, be thou also on that side! 4910 تا کدامین سوی باشد آن یواش ** الله‌الله رو تو هم زان سوی باش
He (the cadi) said, “Suppose the worthy man is not induced to speak by your device and has (already) perceived the trick, گفت اگر از مکر ناید در کلام ** حیله را دانسته باشد آن همام
Tell me truly, how can you know his hidden nature?” He replied, “I sit before him in silence سر او را چون شناسی راست گو ** گفت من خامش نشینم پیش او
And make patience a ladder to climb upwards: patience is the key to success. صبر را سلم کنم سوی درج ** تا بر آیم صبر مفتاح الفرج
And if in his presence there should gush from my heart a speech beyond this (realm of) joy and sorrow, ور بجوشد در حضورش از دلم ** منطقی بیرون ازین شادی و غم
I know that he has sent it to me from the depths of a soul (illumined) like Canopus (rising) in Yemen. 4915 من بدانم کو فرستاد آن بمن ** از ضمیر چون سهیل اندر یمن
The speech in my heart comes from that auspicious quarter, for there is a window between heart and heart.” در دل من آن سخن زان میمنه‌ست ** زانک از دل جانب دل روزنه‌ست