After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.2290
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.2295
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).2300
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.
من همی دانم و آن ستار من ** جرمها و زشتی کردار من
At first an Iblís was my teacher; afterwards Iblís was (mere) wind in comparison with me.2305
اول ابلیسی مرا استاد بود ** بعد از آن ابلیس پیشم باد بود
God saw all that (iniquity), (but) made as though He saw it not, lest I should be openly dishonoured by its exposure.
حق بدید آن جمله را نادیده کرد ** تا نگردم در فضیحت روی‌زرد
Moreover, (the Divine) Mercy exercised the furrier's craft on me and bestowed on me a repentance sweet as life.
باز رحمت پوستین دوزیم کرد ** توبه‌ی شیرین چو جان روزیم کرد
Whatever (ill deeds) I had done, it took them as not having been done; and my undone (acts of) obedience it took as having been performed.
هر چه کردم جمله ناکرده گرفت ** طاعت ناکرده آورده گرفت
It made me free (pure and noble) as the cypress and the lily; it made me glad of heart as fortune and felicity.
هم‌چو سرو و سوسنم آزاد کرد ** هم‌چو بخت و دولتم دلشاد کرد
It inscribed my name in the register of the righteous: I was one doomed to Hell; it gave me Paradise.2310
نام من در نامه‌ی پاکان نوشت ** دوزخی بودم ببخشیدم بهشت
(When) I cried ‘Alas,’ my ‘Alas’ became a rope, and the rope was let down into my well.
آه کردم چون رسن شد آه من ** گشت آویزان رسن در چاه من
I clutched that rope and climbed out: I became glad and strong and stout and rosy.
آن رسن بگرفتم و بیرون شدم ** شاد و زفت و فربه و گلگون شدم
(Formerly) I was lying in misery at the bottom of a well: now I am not contained in the whole world.
در بن چاهی همی‌بودم زبون ** در همه عالم نمی‌گنجم کنون
Praises be unto Thee, O God! Thou didst suddenly put me afar from sorrow.
آفرینها بر تو بادا ای خدا ** ناگهان کردی مرا از غم جدا
If the tip of every hair of me should gain a tongue (power to speak), (yet) the thanks due to Thee are inexpressible.2315
گر سر هر موی من یابد زبان ** شکرهای تو نیاید در بیان
Amidst these gardens and fountains I am crying to the people, ‘Oh, would that my folk did but know!’”
می‌زنم نعره درین روضه و عیون ** خلق را یا لیت قومی یعلمون
How the princess again invited Nasúh to shampoo her, after his repentance had taken firm hold and was accepted (by God), and how he made an excuse and refused to comply.
باز خواندن شه‌زاده نصوح را از بهر دلاکی بعد از استحکام توبه و قبول توبه و بهانه کردن او و دفع گفتن
Afterwards some one came (to Nasúh), saying, “The daughter of our sovereign graciously invites thee.
بعد از آن آمد کسی کز مرحمت ** دختر سلطان ما می‌خواندت
The King's daughter invites thee: come and wash her head now, O devout one.
دختر شاهت همی‌خواند بیا ** تا سرش شویی کنون ای پارسا
Her heart desires no shampooer except thee to massage her or wash her with clay.”
جز تو دلاکی نمی‌خواهد دلش ** که بمالد یا بشوید با گلش
He answered, “Begone, begone! My hand is not in practice, and thy (friend) Nasúh is now fallen sick.2320
گفت رو رو دست من بی‌کار شد ** وین نصوح تو کنون بیمار شد
Go, look for some one else hastily and speedily, for by God my hand has gone out of business.”
رو کسی دیگر بجو اشتاب و تفت ** که مرا والله دست از کار رفت
(Then) he said to himself, “My sin passed beyond (all) bounds: how should that terror and anguish (ever) go from my mind?
با دل خود گفت کز حد رفت جرم ** از دل من کی رود آن ترس و گرم
I died (to self) once (and for all), and (then) I came back (to spiritual life): I tasted the bitterness of death and non-existence.
من بمردم یک ره و باز آمدم ** من چشیدم تلخی مرگ و عدم
I have turned to God with real repentance: I will not break (that vow) till my soul shall be parted from my body.
توبه‌ای کردم حقیقت با خدا ** نشکنم تا جان شدن از تن جدا
After such a tribulation, whose foot should move towards danger a second time, unless it be (the foot of) an ass?”2325
بعد آن محنت کرا بار دگر ** پا رود سوی خطر الا که خر
Story demonstrating that (when) a person repents and feels remorse and then forgets his feelings of remorse and tries again what he has tried (before), he falls into everlasting perdition. Unless his repentance be reinforced by a (great) firmness and strength and by a (great) sweetness and acceptance (experienced inwardly), it is like a rootless tree, more faded and withered every day. We take refuge with God (from that).
حکایت در بیان آنک کسی توبه کند و پشیمان شود و باز آن پشیمانیها را فراموش کند و آزموده را باز آزماید در خسارت ابد افتد چون توبه‌ی او را ثباتی و قوتی و حلاوتی و قبولی مدد نرسد چون درخت بی‌بیخ هر روز زردتر و خشک‌تر نعوذ بالله
(Once) there was a washerman, who had an ass with a sore on its back and empty-bellied and lean.
گازری بود و مر او را یک خری ** پشت ریش اشکم تهی و لاغری
(He kept it) in ground covered with stones, where no grass grew: from morning till night it went without food and shelter.
در میان سنگ لاخ بی‌گیاه ** روز تا شب بی‌نوا و بی‌پناه
Except water, there was nothing for it to eat or drink: the ass was in that miserable state by day and by night.
بهر خوردن جز که آب آنجا نبود ** روز و شب بد خر در آن کور و کبود
In the neighbourhood was a reed-bed and a jungle, where a lion lived whose occupation was hunting.
آن حوالی نیستان و بیشه بود ** شیر بود آنجا که صیدش پیشه بود
A battle took place between the lion and a fierce elephant: the lion was wounded and disabled from going to hunt.2330
شیر را با پیل نر جنگ اوفتاد ** خسته شد آن شیر و ماند از اصطیاد
On account of his weakness he was unable to hunt for some time, and the (smaller) wild animals were deprived of their morning-meal;
مدتی وا ماند زان ضعف از شکار ** بی‌نوا ماندند دد از چاشت‌خوار
For they used to eat the lion's leavings: when the lion became ill they suffered distress.
زانک باقی‌خوار شیر ایشان بدند ** شیر چون رنجور شد تنگ آمدند
The lion gave orders to a fox, saying, “Go and hunt an ass for me.
شیر یک روباه را فرمود رو ** مر خری را بهر من صیاد شو
If you find an ass round about the meadow, go, charm him with specious talk, beguile him, and bring him (here).
گر خری یابی به گرد مرغزار ** رو فسونش خوان فریبانش بیار
As soon as I gain some strength from (eating) the flesh of the ass, then afterwards I will seize another victim.2335
چون بیابم قوتی از گوشت خر ** پس بگیرم بعد از آن صیدی دگر
I will eat (only) a little, ye (shall have) the rest: I am the means (appointed) for you as regards (your supply of) food.
اندکی من می‌خورم باقی شما ** من سبب باشم شما را در نوا