They became sick of the village and the country and of the sugared expressions of such an uninstructed boor.
سیر گشته از ده و از روستا ** وز شکرریز چنان نا اوستا
How the Khwája and his kinsfolk arrived at the village, and how the countryman pretended not to see or recognise them:
رسیدن خواجه و قومش به ده و نادیده و ناشناخته آوردن روستایی ایشان را
When, after a month, they arrived in that quarter, themselves without provisions and their beasts without fodder,
بعد ماهی چون رسیدند آن طرف ** بینوا ایشان ستوران بی علف
See how the countryman, from evil intent, still inflicts (on them) calamities small and great,
روستایی بین که از بدنیتی ** میکند بعد اللتیا والتی
And keeps his face hidden from them by day, lest they should open their mouths in the direction of his orchard.600
روی پنهان میکند زیشان بروز ** تا سوی باغش بنگشایند پوز
’Tis better that a face like that, which is wholly (composed of) hypocrisy and malice, should be hidden from Moslems.
آنچنان رو که همه رزق و شرست ** از مسلمانان نهان اولیترست
There are faces on which demons are settled like gnats, as (though they were) guardsmen.
رویها باشد که دیوان چون مگس ** بر سرش بنشسته باشند چون حرس
When you behold his (such a one's) face, they (the demons) fall upon you: either do not behold that face, (or) when you have beheld (it), do not laugh pleasantly.
چون ببینی روی او در تو فتند ** یا مبین آن رو چو دیدی خوش مخند
Concerning such a wicked, sinful face God hath said, “Verily, We will drag (him) by the forelock.”
در چنان روی خبیث عاصیه ** گفت یزدان نسفعن بالناصیه
When they (the townsman's party) had made enquiry and found his (the countryman's) house, they hurried like kinsfolk to the door.605
چون بپرسیدند و خانهش یافتند ** همچو خویشان سوی در بشتافتند
(Thereupon) the people in his house bolted the door. At this perverseness, the Khwája became mad-like,
در فرو بستند اهل خانهاش ** خواجه شد زین کژروی دیوانهوش
But indeed it was no time for asperity: when you have fallen into the pit, what is the use of being enraged?
لیک هنگام درشتی هم نبود ** چون در افتادی بچه تیزی چه سود
Five days they remained at his door: (they passed) the night in the cold, the day itself in the blaze of the sun.
بر درش ماندند ایشان پنج روز ** شب بسرما روز خود خورشیدسوز
Their remaining (there) was not from heedlessness or asininity; nay, it was from necessity and want of an ass.
نه ز غفلت بود ماندن نه خری ** بلک بود از اضطرار و بیخری
From necessity, the good are (often) bound to the vile: from sore hunger the lion will eat a putrid carcase.610
با لیمان بسته نیکان ز اضطرار ** شیر مرداری خورد از جوع زار
He (the townsman) would see him (the countryman) and salute him, saying, “I am so-and-so, this is my name.”
او همیدیدش همیکردش سلام ** که فلانم من مرا اینست نام
“Maybe,” he said; “how should I know who thou art, whether thou art a dirty fellow or an honest gentleman?”
گفت باشد من چه دانم تو کیی ** یا پلیدی یا قرین پاکیی
“This moment,” said he, “resembles the Resurrection, since a brother has come to flee from his brother.”
گفت این دم با قیامت شد شبیه ** تا برادر شد یفر من اخیه
He would explain to him (the countryman), saying, “I am he from whose table thou didst eat viands manifold.
شرح میکردش که من آنم که تو ** لوتها خوردی ز خوان من دوتو
On such and such a day I bought that merchandise for thee: every secret that goes beyond the two (who share it) is published (to all).615
آن فلان روزت خریدم آن متاع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع
The people heard the secret of our affection; (as a rule) when the gullet has received bounty, the face hath (signs of) bashfulness.”
سر مهر ما شنیدستند خلق ** شرم دارد رو چو نعمت خورد حلق
He (the countryman) would say to him, “Why dost thou talk nonsense? I know neither thee nor thy name nor thy dwelling-place.”
او همیگفتش چه گویی ترهات ** نه ترا دانم نه نام تو نه جات
On the fifth night there began such a (storm of) cloud and rain that the sky might (well) be astonished at its raining.
پنجمین شب ابر و بارانی گرفت ** کاسمان از بارشش دارد شگفت
When the knife reached the bone, the Khwája knocked at the door, crying, “Call the master!”
چون رسید آن کارد اندر استخوان ** حلقه زد خواجه که مهتر را بخوان
When (at last), in response to a hundred urgent entreaties, he came to the door, he said, “Why, what is it, my dear sir?”620
چون بصد الحاح آمد سوی در ** گفت آخر چیست ای جان پدر
He replied, “I abandon those claims (to thy gratitude), I renounce that (recompense) which I was fancying.
گفت من آن حقها بگذاشتم ** ترک کردم آنچ میپنداشتم
I have suffered five years' pain: five days my miserable soul (hath been) amidst this heat and blaze.”
پنجساله رنج دیدم پنج روز ** جان مسکینم درین گرما و سوز
One injustice from kindred and friends and family is in heaviness as three hundred thousand,
یک جفا از خویش و از یار و تبار ** در گرانی هست چون سیصد هزار
Because he (the sufferer) did not set his mind on (anticipate) his (the friend's) cruelty and injustice: his soul was accustomed to kindness and faithfulness from him.
زانک دل ننهاد بر جور و جفاش ** جانش خوگر بود با لطف و وفاش
Whatsoever is tribulation and sore grief to men, know for sure that this is in consequence of its being contrary to habit.625
هرچه بر مردم بلا و شدتست ** این یقین دان کز خلاف عادتست
He (the townsman) said (further), “O thou the sun of whose love is in decline, if thou hast shed my blood, I acquit thee.
گفت ای خورشید مهرت در زوال ** گر تو خونم ریختی کردم حلال
On this night of rain give us a nook (to shelter in), so that at the Resurrection thou mayst obtain a viaticum (reward for the good work).”
امشب باران به ما ده گوشهای ** تا بیابی در قیامت توشهای
“There is a nook,” he replied, “belonging to the keeper of the vineyard: he keeps watch there against the wolf,
گفت یک گوشهست آن باغبان ** هست اینجا گرگ را او پاسبان
(With) bow and arrow in his hand on account of the wolf, so that he may shoot if the fierce wolf should come.
در کفش تیر و کمان از بهر گرگ ** تا زند گر آید آن گرگ سترگ
If thou wilt do that service, the place is thine; and if not, have the kindness to seek another place.”630
گر تو آن خدمت کنی جا آن تست ** ورنه جای دیگری فرمای جست
He said, “I will do a hundred services, (only) give thou the place, and put that bow and arrow in my hand.
گفت صد خدمت کنم تو جای ده ** آن کمان و تیر در کفم بنه
I will not sleep, I will guard the vines; if the wolf raise his head, I will shoot the arrow at him.
من نخسپم حارسی رز کنم ** گر بر آرد گرگ سر تیرش زنم
For God's sake do not leave me to-night, O double-hearted (hypocrite), (with) the rain-water overhead and the mud underneath!”
بهر حق مگذارم امشب ای دودل ** آب باران بر سر و در زیر گل
A nook was cleared, and he with his family went thither: (’twas) a narrow place and without room to turn.
گوشهای خالی شد و او با عیال ** رفت آنجا جای تنگ و بی مجال
Mounted upon one another, like locusts, (and crowded) from terror of the flood into the corner of the cavern,635
چون ملخ بر همدگر گشته سوار ** از نهیب سیل اندر کنج غار
During the night, the whole night, they all (were) crying, “O God, this serves us right, serves us right, serves us right.”
شب همه شب جمله گویان ای خدا ** این سزای ما سزای ما سزا
This is what is deserved by him that consorted with the vile, or showed worthiness for the sake of the unworthy.
این سزای آنک شد یار خسان ** یا کسی کرداز برای ناکسان
This is what is deserved by him that in vain desire gives up paying homage to the dust of the noble.
این سزای آنک اندر طمع خام ** ترک گوید خدمت خاک کرام
That you lick the dust and the wall of the pure (elect) is better (for you) than the vulgar and their vines and rose-gardens.
خاک پاکان لیسی و دیوارشان ** بهتر از عام و رز و گلزارشان
That you become a slave to a man of enlightened heart is better (for you) than that you should walk upon the crown of the head of kings.640
بندهی یک مرد روشندل شوی ** به که بر فرق سر شاهان روی
From the kings of earth you will get nothing but the (empty) noise of a drum, O courier of (many) roads.
از ملوک خاک جز بانگ دهل ** تو نخواهی یافت ای پیک سبل
Even the townsmen are brigands in comparison with the Spirit. Who is the countryman? The fool that is without spiritual gifts.
شهریان خود رهزنان نسبت بروح ** روستایی کیست گیج و بی فتوح
This is what is deserved by him who, (when) the cry of a ghoul came to him, without rational foresight chose to move (towards the ghoul).
این سزای آنک بی تدبیر عقل ** بانگ غولی آمدش بگزید نقل
When repentance has gone from the (core of the) heart to the pericardium after that it is of no use to acknowledge (one's sin).
چون پشیمانی ز دل شد تا شغاف ** زان سپس سودی ندارد اعتراف
(With) the bow and arrow in his hand, he (was) seeking the wolf all night to and fro.645
آن کمان و تیر اندر دست او ** گرگ را جویان همه شب سو بسو
The wolf, in sooth, was given power over him, like sparks of fire: (he was) seeking the wolf (outside), and (was) unaware of the wolf (within himself).
گرگ بر وی خود مسلط چون شرر ** گرگ جویان و ز گرگ او بیخبر