“Good gracious!” cried he, “implore God's grace, O father and say little (give few instructions) to a messenger who knows his business.”215
گفت لاحول ای پدر لاحول کن ** با رسول اهل کمتر گو سخن
The Súfí said, “Take the comb and curry the ass's back.” “Good gracious! do have some shame, O father,” said he.
گفت بستان شانه پشت خر بخار ** گفت لاحول ای پدر شرمی بدار
The servant said this and briskly girded up his loins. “I go,” said he; “first I will fetch the straw and barley.”
خادم این گفت و میان را بست چست ** گفت رفتم کاه و جو آرم نخست
Off he went and never thought of the stable at all: he gave that Súfí (a pretence like) the sleep of the hare.
رفت و از آخر نکرد او هیچ یاد ** خواب خرگوشی بدان صوفی بداد
The servant went off to (join) some rascals and made a mockery of the Súfí's admonition.
رفت خادم جانب اوباش چند ** کرد بر اندرز صوفی ریشخند
The Súfí was fatigued by his journey and stretched his limbs (lay down to sleep): with his eyes closed he was dreaming220
صوفی از ره مانده بود و شد دراز ** خوابها میدید با چشم فراز
That his ass was left (helpless) in the clutch of a wolf, (which) was tearing pieces (of flesh) from its back and thighs.
کان خرش در چنگ گرگی مانده بود ** پارهها از پشت و رانش میربود
“Good gracious!” he exclaimed, “what melancholy (madness) is this? Oh, where is that kindly servant?”
گفت لاحول این چه مالیخولیاست ** ای عجب آن خادم مشفق کجاست
Again he would see his ass going along the road and falling now into a well and now into a ditch.
باز میدید آن خرش در راه رو ** گه به چاهی میفتاد و گه به گو
He was dreaming various unpleasant dreams; he was reciting the Fátiha and the Qári‘a.
گونهگون میدید ناخوش واقعه ** فاتحه میخواند او و القارعه
He said (to himself), “What can be done to help? My friends have hurried out: they have departed and made all the doors fast.”225
گفت چاره چیست یاران جستهاند ** رفتهاند و جمله درها بستهاند
Again he would say, “Oh, I wonder—that wretched servant! Did not he partake of bread and salt with us?
باز میگفت ای عجب آن خادمک ** نه که با ما گشت هم نان و نمک
I showed him nothing but courtesy and mildness: why should he on the contrary show hatred towards me?
من نکردم با وی الا لطف و لین ** او چرا با من کند بر عکس کین
Every enmity must rest on some cause; otherwise, our common humanity would dictate faithfulness (in friendship).”
هر عداوت را سبب باید سند ** ور نه جنسیت وفا تلقین کند
Then he would say again, “When had Adam, the kind and generous, done an injury to Iblís?
باز میگفت آدم با لطف وجود ** کی بر آن ابلیس جوری کرده بود
What was done by man to snake and scorpion that they wish (to inflict) death and pain upon him?230
آدمی مر مار و کژدم را چه کرد ** کاو همیخواهد مر او را مرگ و درد
To rend is the instinct of the wolf: after all, this envy is conspicuous in mankind.”
گرگ را خود خاصیت بدریدن است ** این حسد در خلق آخر روشن است
Again he would say, “It is wrong thus to think evil: why have I such thoughts against my brother?”
باز میگفت این گمان بد خطاست ** بر برادر این چنین ظنم چراست
Then he would say, “Prudence consists in your thinking evil: how shall he that thinks no evil remain unhurt?”
باز گفتی حزم سوء الظن تست ** هر که بد ظن نیست کی ماند درست
The Súfí was in (this) anxiety, and (meanwhile) the ass was in such a plight that—may it befall our enemies!
صوفی اندر وسوسه و آن خر چنان ** که چنین بادا جز ای دشمنان
That poor ass was amidst earth and stones, with his saddle crooked and his halter torn,235
آن خر مسکین میان خاک و سنگ ** کژ شده پالان دریده پالهنگ
Killed (exhausted) by the journey, without fodder all the night long, now at the last gasp and now perishing.
خسته از ره جملهی شب بیعلف ** گاه در جان کندن و گه در تلف
All night the ass was repeating, “O God, I give up the barley; (but am I to have) less than one handful of straw?”
خر همه شب ذکر میکرد ای اله ** جو رها کردم کم از یک مشت کاه
With mute eloquence he was saying, “O Shaykhs, (have) some pity, for I am consumed (with anguish) because of this raw impudent rogue.”
با زبان حال میگفت ای شیوخ ** رحمتی که سوختم زین خام شوخ
What that ass suffered of pain and torment, the land-bird suffers (the same) in a flood of water.
آن چه آن خر دید از رنج و عذاب ** مرغ خاکی بیند اندر سیل آب
(All) that night till dawn the wretched ass, from exceeding hunger, rolled frequently on his side.240
بس به پهلو گشت آن شب تا سحر ** آن خر بیچاره از جوع البقر
Day rose. The servant came at morn and at once laid the saddle firmly on the ass's back.
روز شد خادم بیامد بامداد ** زود پالان جست بر پشتش نهاد
After the fashion of ass-dealers he gave him two or three blows (with a goad): he did to the ass what is befitting from such a cur (as he was).
خر فروشانه دو سه زخمش بزد ** کرد با خر آن چه ز آن سگ میسزد
The sharpness of the sting set the ass jumping; where is the tongue (has an ass such a tongue) that he may describe his own state (feelings)?
خر جهنده گشت از تیزی نیش ** کو زبان تا خر بگوید حال خویش
How the people of the caravan supposed the Sufi's beast was ill
گمان بردن کاروانیان که بهمیه‌ای صوفی رنجور است
When the Súfí mounted and got going, he (the ass) began to fall on his face every time,
چون که صوفی بر نشست و شد روان ** رو در افتادن گرفت او هر زمان
(And) every time the people (the travellers) lifted him up: they all thought he was ill.245
هر زمانش خلق بر میداشتند ** جمله رنجورش همیپنداشتند
One would twist his ears hard, while another sought for the (lacerated) part under his palate,
آن یکی گوشش همیپیچید سخت ** و آن دگر در زیر گامش جست لخت
And another searched for the stone in his shoe, and another looked at the dirt in his eye.
و آن دگر در نعل او میجست سنگ ** و آن دگر در چشم او میدید زنگ
Also they were saying,“O Shaykh, what is the cause of this? Were not you saying yesterday, ‘Thanks (to God), this ass is strong’?”
باز میگفتند ای شیخ این ز چیست ** دی نمیگفتی که شکر این خر قوی است
He replied, “The ass that ate Lá hawl during the night cannot get along except in this manner.
گفت آن خر کاو به شب لاحول خورد ** جز بدین شیوه نداند راه کرد
Inasmuch as the ass's food by night was Lá hawl, he was glorifying God by night and (is engaged) in prostrating himself by day.”250
چون که قوت خر به شب لاحول بود ** شب مسبح بود و روز اندر سجود
Most people are man-eaters: put no trust in their saying, “Peace to you.”
آدمی خوارند اغلب مردمان ** از سلام علیکشان کم جو امان
The hearts of all are the Devil's house: do not accept (listen to) the palaver of devilish men.
خانهی دیو است دلهای همه ** کم پذیر از دیو مردم دمدمه
He that swallows Lá hawl from the breath (mouth) of the Devil, like that ass falls headlong in the fight.
از دم دیو آن که او لاحول خورد ** هم چو آن خر در سر آید در نبرد
Whoever swallows the Devil's imposture in this world and (swallows) veneration and deceit from the foe that has the face (semblance) of a friend,
هر که در دنیا خورد تلبیس دیو ** و ز عدوی دوست رو تعظیم و ریو
In the Way of Islam and on the bridge Sirát he will fall upon his head from giddiness, like that ass.255
در ره اسلام و بر پول صراط ** در سر آید همچو آن خر از خباط
Beware! Do not hearken to the blandishments of the bad friend: espy the snare, do not walk securely on the earth.
عشوههای یار بد منیوش هین ** دام بین ایمن مرو تو بر زمین
See the hundred thousand devils who utter Lá hawl! O Adam, in the serpent behold Iblís!
صد هزار ابلیس لاحول آر بین ** آدما ابلیس را در مار بین
He gives (you) vain words, he says to you, “O my soul and beloved,” that he may strip the skin off his beloved, like a butcher.
دم دهد گوید ترا ای جان و دوست ** تا چو قصابی کشد از دوست پوست
He gives vain words that he may strip off your skin: woe to him that tastes opium from (the mouth of) enemies.
دم دهد تا پوستت بیرون کشد ** وای او کز دشمنان آفیون چشد
He lays his head at your feet (in flattery) and butcher-like gives (you) vain (wheedling) words, that he may shed your blood miserably.260
سر نهد بر پای تو قصابوار ** دم دهد تا خونت ریزد زار زار
Like a lion, hunt your prey yourself: leave (pay no heed to) the blandishment of stranger or kinsman.
همچو شیری صید خود را خویش کن ** ترک عشوهی اجنبی و خویش کن
Know that the regard of the base is like that servant; ’tis better to have nobody (as your friend) than (to accept) the flattery of nobodies (worthless people).