The ass was becoming lean, and his mistress remained helpless, saying, "Why has his ass become as (thin as) a hair?"
خر همی شد لاغر و خاتون او ** مانده عاجز کز چه شد این خر چو مو
She showed the ass to the shoeing smiths and asked, "What is his ailment of which the result is leanness?"
نعل‌بندان را نمود آن خر که چیست ** علت او که نتیجه‌ش لاغریست
No ailment was discerned in him, no one gave information concerning the secret (cause) thereof.1340
هیچ علت اندرو ظاهر نشد ** هیچ کس از سر او مخبر نشد
(Then) she began to investigate in earnest: she became prepared to investigate at every moment.
در تفحص اندر افتاد او به جد ** شد تفحص را دمادم مستعد
The soul must needs be devoted to earnest endeavour, for the earnest seeker will be a finder.
جد را باید که جان بنده بود ** زانک جد جوینده یابنده بود
Postquam rem asini perscrutata est, ancillulam narcisso similem vidit sub asino cubantem. [When she investigated the ass’s condition, she saw the little narcissus (the maidservant) lying under the ass.]
چون تفحص کرد از حال اشک ** دید خفته زیر خر آن نرگسک
Through a crack in the door she saw what was going on: the old woman marvelled greatly thereat.
از شکاف در بدید آن حال را ** بس عجب آمد از آن آن زال را
(Vidit) asinum futuentem ancillam sicut viri ratione et more (concumbunt) cum feminis. [(She saw) the ass copulating with the maidservant in the manner that men reasonably and customarily (do) with women.]1345
خر همی‌گاید کنیزک را چنان ** که به عقل و رسم مردان با زنان
She became envious and said, “Since this is possible, then I have the best right, for the ass is my property.
در حسد شد گفت چون این ممکنست ** پس نم اولیتر که خر ملک منست
The ass has been perfectly trained and instructed: the table is laid and the lamp is lighted.”
خر مهذب گشته و آموخته ** خوان نهادست و چراغ افروخته
Feigning to have seen nothing, she knocked at the door of the room (stable), saying, “How long will you be sweeping the room, O maid?”
کرد نادیده و در خانه بکوفت ** کای کنیزک چند خواهی خانه روفت
She spoke these words as a blind (and added), “I have come, O maid: open the door.”
از پی روپوش می‌گفت این سخن ** کای کنیزک آمدم در باز کن
(Then) she became silent and said no more to the maid: she concealed the secret for the sake of her own desire.1350
کرد خاموش و کنیزک را نگفت ** راز را از بهر طمع خود نهفت
Thereupon the maid hid all the apparatus of iniquity and came forward and opened the door.
پس کنیزک جمله آلات فساد ** کرد پنهان پیش شد در را گشاد
She made her face sour and her eyes full of moisture (tears) and rubbed her lips (against each other), meaning to say, “I am fasting.”
رو ترش کرد و دو دیده پر ز نم ** لب فرو مالید یعنی صایمم
In her hand was a soft broom, as though to say, “I was sweeping the room in order to clean it.”
در کف او نرمه جاروبی که من ** خانه را می‌روفتم بهر عطن
When, with the broom (in her hand), she opened the door, the mistress said under her breath, “O crafty one,
چونک باع جاروب در را وا گشاد ** گفت خاتون زیر لب کای اوستاد
You have made your face sour and (taken) a broom in your hand; what is (the meaning of) the ass having turned away from his fodder?1355
رو ترش کردی و جاروبی به کف ** چیست آن خر برگسسته از علف
Re semiconfecta, iratus, agitans veretrum: quia te exspectat ideo (sunt) duo oculi ejus ad januam (conversi).” [Half-finished and angry, (its) penis (was still) moving: its (the ass’s) two eyes (were turned) toward the door in expectation of you.”]
نیم کاره و خشمگین جنبان ذکر ** ز انتظار تو دو چشمش سوی در
This she said under her breath and concealed (her thought) from the maid: at that moment she treated her, like innocent persons, honourably.
زیر لب گفت این نهان کرد از کنیز ** داشتش آن دم چو بی‌جرمان عزیز
Afterwards she said to her, “Put the chádar on your head, go and take a message from me to such and such a house.
بعد از آن گفتش که چادر نه به سر ** رو فلان خانه ز من پیغام بر
Say so-and-so and do so-and-so.” I abridge the talk of the women.
این چنین گو وین چنین کن وآنچنان ** مختصر کردم من افسانه‌ی زنان
Take the gist of what is to the purpose. When the discreet old woman had sent her (the maid) away,1360
آنچ مقصودست مغز آن بگیر ** چون براهش کرد آن زال ستیر
Propter ebrietatem libidinis gaudebat: she shut the door, saying meanwhile, [She was happy from the intoxication of (her) lust: she shut the door, saying meanwhile,]
بود از مستی شهوت شادمان ** در فرو بست و همی‌گفت آن زمان
“I have secured privacy, I will shout in thanksgiving: I am delivered from the four dángs and the two dángs.”
یافتم خلوت زنم از شکر بانگ ** رسته‌ام از چار دانگ و از دو دانگ
Gaudio hircus (prurigo) feminae quae in igne libidinis asini inquieta erat mille factus est. [From joy, the woman’s goat (of lust) had become a thousand (-fold); (she became) restless in the sparks of the ass’s lust.]
از طرب گشته بزان زن هزار ** در شرار شهوت خر بی‌قرار
Qualis hircus est ille quem tanta libido ludibrium fecit? Stultum deludi non est mirabile. [What goat (was) that?—for lust took her goat (made a fool of her). The taking of a fool’s goat is not (something) amazing.]
چه بزان که آن شهوت او را بز گرفت ** بز گرفتن گیج را نبود شگفت
Lustful desire makes the heart deaf and blind, so that an ass seems like Joseph, fire (like) light.1365
میل شهوت کر کند دل را و کور ** تا نماید خر چو یوسف نار نور
Oh, many a one intoxicated with fire and seeking fire deems himself absolute light.
ای بسا سرمست نار و نارجو ** خویشتن را نور مطلق داند او
(He is lost) unless a (chosen) servant of God, or the pull of God (Himself), lead him into the (right) way and turn over his leaf,
جز مگر بنده‌ی خدا یا جذب حق ** با رهش آرد بگرداند ورق
So that he may know that the fiery phantom (which he mistook for light) in the Path is but a loan (unreal).
تا بداند که آن خیال ناریه ** در طریقت نیست الا عاریه
(Sensual) cupidity causes foul things to appear fair: among the banes of the Way there is none like lust, none worse.
زشتها را خوب بنماید شره ** نیست چون شهوت بتر ز آفتاب ره
It has disgraced a hundred thousand good names, it has stupefied (besotted) a hundred thousand clever men.1370
صد هزاران نام خوش را کرد ننگ ** صد هزاران زیرکان را کرد دنگ
Since it caused an ass to appear (like) Joseph of Egypt, how (in what aspect) will that (miscreant) Jew cause a Joseph to appear?
چون خری را یوسف مصری نمود ** یوسفی را چون نماید آن جهود
Its spell made dung seem honey to you: what, forsooth, will it make honey seem at the time of contest?
بر تو سرگین را فسونش شهد کرد ** شهد را خود چون کند وقت نبرد
Lust arises from eating and drinking: diminish your food, or marry and (so) flee from wickedness.
شهوت از خوردن بود کم کن ز خور ** یا نکاحی کن گریزان شو ز شر
When you have eaten and drunk (too much), it leads to things forbidden: there must necessarily be some outgoing of income.
چون بخوردی می‌کشد سوی حرم ** دخل را خرجی بباید لاجرم
Marriage, then, is like (the exorcism), “There is neither power nor (strength except in God),” lest the Devil cast you into temptation.1375
پس نکاح آمد چو لاحول و لا ** تا که دیوت نفکند اندر بلا
Since you are fond of eating and drinking, ask a woman (in marriage) at once; else the cat comes and carries off the fat sheep's tail.
چون حریص خوردنی زن خواه زود ** ورنه آمد گربه و دنبه ربود
Quickly put a heavy load on the shying ass before he puts (you) down.
بار سنگی بر خری که می‌جهد ** زود بر نه پیش از آن کو بر نهد
(If) you do not know the effect of fire, hold aloof (from it): do not approach the fire with such (little) knowledge (as you have).
فعل آتش را نمی‌دانی تو برد ** گرد آتش با چنین دانش مگرد
If you have no knowledge of the cooking-pot and the fire, neither the pot nor the soup will be spared by the flames.
علم دیگ و آتش ار نبود ترا ** از شرر نه دیگ ماند نه ابا
Water must be there and skill too, in order that the (contents of the) pot may be safely cooked in boiling.1380
آب حاضر باید و فرهنگ نیز ** تا پزد آب دیگ سالم در ازیز
If you are ignorant of the science of the ironsmith, your beard and hair will be burned when you pass by that place (the forge).
چون ندانی دانش آهنگری ** ریش و مو سوزد چو آنجا بگذری
Femina januam clausit asinumque animo gaudente attraxit: necessario poenam gustavit. [The woman shut the (stable) door and drew the ass (to her) joyfully; necessarily, she tasted the penalty (for her shameful behavior).]
در فرو بست آن زن و خر را کشید ** شادمانه لاجرم کیفر چشید
In medium stabulum eum trahendo duxit: sub asino decubuit supina [Pulling, she brought it into the middle of the stable: she lay down on (her) back under the male ass]
در میان خانه آوردش کشان ** خفت اندر زیر آن نر خر ستان
In eadem sella quam viderat ab ancilla (adhibitam), ut ista meretrix quoque voto potiretur. [On the same chair that she saw (used) by the maidservant in order to attain her desire; that whore (did) also.]
هم بر آن کرسی که دید او از کنیز ** تا رسد در کام خود آن قحبه نیز
Pedem sustulit, asinus (veretrum) in eam trusit: asini veretro ignis in ea accensus est. [She raised (her) feet and the ass thrust (its penis) into her; a fire (of lust) was kindled in her by the ass’s penis.]1385
پا بر آورد و خر اندر ویی سپوخت ** آتشی از کیر خر در وی فروخت
Cum asinus eruditus esset, in hera infixit (veretrum) usque ad testiculos: simul hera periit. [The ass had been trained; it pressed (its penis) into the lady up to (its) testicles: the lady died at once.]
خر مدب گشته در خاتون فشرد ** تا بخایه در زمان خاتون بمرد
Jecur ejus veretri verbere discissum, viscera inter se dirupta. [(Her) liver was torn by the blow of the ass’s penis; (her) intestines were torn away from each other. ]
بر درید از زخم کیر خر جگر ** روده‌ها بسکسته شد از همدگر