The Shaykh with (a nod of) his head directed the famulus to go and buy the whole of the halwá,
شیخ اشارت کرد خادم را به سر ** که برو آن جمله حلوا را بخر
(Saying to himself), “so that the creditors, when they eat the halwá, for a (short) while may not look bitterly on me.”
تا غریمان چون که آن حلوا خورند ** یک زمانی تلخ در من ننگرند
The famulus at once went out through the doorway to buy with gold the halwá entire.395
در زمان خادم برون آمد به در ** تا خرد او جمله حلوا ز ان پسر
He said to the boy, “How much is the halwá in the lump?” The boy said, “Half a dinar and some small change.”
گفت او را جملهی حلوا به چند ** گفت کودک نیم دیناری و اند
“Nay,” he replied; “don't ask too much from Súfís: I will give you half a dinar. Say no more.”
گفت نه از صوفیان افزون مجو ** نیم دینارت دهم دیگر مگو
The boy put the tray before the Shaykh. Behold (now) the mysterious secret thoughts of the Shaykh!
او طبق بنهاد اندر پیش شیخ ** تو ببین اسرار سر اندیش شیخ
He made a sign to the creditors (as though to say), “Look, this gift (of sweetmeat) is a present (to you): eat this gladly, it is lawful (food).”
کرد اشارت با غریمان کین نوال ** نک تبرک خوش خورید این را حلال
When the tray was emptied, the boy took it and said, “Give me the gold, O Sage.”400
چون طبق خالی شد آن کودک ستد ** گفت دینارم بده ای با خرد
The Shaykh said, “From where shall I get the money? I am in debt and going towards non-existence.”
شیخ گفتا از کجا آرم درم ** وام دارم میروم سوی عدم
The boy in (his) grief dashed the tray upon the ground; he raised (his voice in) lamentation and weeping and moaning.
کودک از غم زد طبق را بر زمین ** ناله و گریه بر آورد و حنین
The boy was weeping with loud sobs because of the swindle, (and crying), “Would that both my legs had been broken (ere I came hither)!
میگریست از غبن کودک های های ** کای مرا بشکسته بودی هر دو پای
Would that I had loitered round the bath-stove and had not passed by the door of this monastery!
کاشکی من گرد گلخن گشتمی ** بر در این خانقه نگذشتمی
Lickspittle gluttonous Súfís, dogs at heart and washing their faces like cats!”405
صوفیان طبل خوار لقمه جو ** سگ دلان و همچو گربه روی شو
At the boy's clamour all and sundry gathered there and crowded round the boy.
از غریو کودک آن جا خیر و شر ** گرد آمد گشت بر کودک حشر
He came to the Shaykh and said, “O cruel Shaykh, know for sure that my master will kill me (with blows).
پیش شیخ آمد که ای شیخ درشت ** تو یقین دان که مرا استاد کشت
If I go (back) to him empty-handed, he will kill me: wilt thou give (him) leave (to do that)?”
گر روم من پیش او دست تهی ** او مرا بکشد اجازت میدهی
And those creditors too turned to the Shaykh with disbelief and denial, saying, “What was this anyhow?
و آن غریمان هم به انکار و جحود ** رو به شیخ آورده کاین باری چه بود
Thou hast devoured our property and art carrying off thy iniquities (to the next world): for what reason was this other injustice (put) on the top (of all the rest)?”410
مال ما خوردی مظالم میبری ** از چه بود این ظلم دیگر بر سری
Till afternoon prayers the boy wept; the Shaykh closed his eyes and did not look at him.
تا نماز دیگر آن کودک گریست ** شیخ دیده بست و در وی ننگریست
The Shakyh, unconcerned with abuse and opposition, had withdrawn his moon-like face under the coverlet,
شیخ فارغ از جفا و از خلاف ** در کشیده روی چون مه در لحاف
Pleased with eternity, pleased with death, joyous, unconcerned with revilement and the talk of high or low.
با ازل خوش با اجل خوش شاد کام ** فارغ از تشنیع و گفت خاص و عام
He in whose face the Beloved smiles sweetly, what harm can befall him from the sour looks of (other) people?
آن که جان در روی او خندد چو قند ** از ترش رویی خلقش چه گزند
He on whose eye the Beloved bestows a kiss, how should he grieve at Heaven and its anger?415
آن که جان بوسه دهد بر چشم او ** کی خورد غم از فلک وز خشم او
On a moonlight night what cares the moon in (the mansion of) Simák for dogs and their barking?
در شب مهتاب مه را بر سماک ** از سگان و عوعو ایشان چه باک
The dog is performing his task; the moon is smoothly fulfilling her task by means of her (bright) countenance.
سگ وظیفهی خود به جا میآورد ** مه وظیفهی خود به رخ میگسترد
Every one is executing his little business: water does not lose purity because of a bit of weed (rubbish).
کارک خود میگزارد هر کسی ** آب نگذارد صفا بهر خسی
The weeds float weedily (contemptibly) on the surface of the water: the water flows on pure (and) undisturbed.
خس خسانه میرود بر روی آب ** آب صافی میرود بیاضطراب
Mustafá (Mohammed) splits the moon at midnight; Abú Lahab from hatred talks drivel.420
The Messiah (Jesus) brings the dead to life, and the Jew tears his moustache in wrath.
آن مسیحا مرده زنده میکند ** و آن جهود از خشم سبلت میکند
Does the dog's bark ever reach the moon's ear, especially that Moon who is the chosen of God?
بانگ سگ هرگز رسد در گوش ماه ** خاصه ماهی کاو بود خاص اله
The king drinks wine on the bank of the stream till dawn, and in listening to the music is unaware of the croaking of the frogs.
میخورد شه بر لب جو تا سحر ** در سماع از بانگ چغزان بیخبر
The division of (the money due to) the boy (amongst the creditors) would have been (only a few dángs (for each to pay); (but) the Shaykh's (spiritual) influence stopped that generosity,
هم شدی توزیع کودک دانگ چند ** همت شیخ آن سخا را کرد بند
So that no one should give the boy anything: the power of the Pírs is even greater than this.425
تا کسی ندهد به کودک هیچ چیز ** قوت پیران از این بیش است نیز
(When) it was (time for) afternoon prayers, a servant came with a tray in his hand from one like Hátim,
شد نماز دیگر آمد خادمی ** یک طبق بر کف ز پیش حاتمی
A man of property and condition: he sent it as a present to the Pír (Shaykh), for he knew about him.
صاحب مالی و حالی پیش پیر ** هدیه بفرستاد کز وی بد خبیر
(There were) four hundred dinars, and in a corner of the tray another half-dinar in a piece of paper.
چار صد دینار بر گوشهی طبق ** نیم دینار دگر اندر ورق
The servant advanced and did honour to the Shaykh, and laid the tray before the peerless Shaykh.
خادم آمد شیخ را اکرام کرد ** و آن طبق بنهاد پیش شیخ فرد