A guest came to a certain man at a late hour: he (the master of the house) made him (at home) like a collar on the neck.
آن یکی را بیگهان آمد قنق ** ساخت او را هم‌چو طوق اندر عنق
He brought trays of food and showed him every courtesy; on that night there was a feast in their parish.
خوان کشید او را کرامتها نمود ** آن شب اندر کوی ایشان سور بود
The man spoke secretly to his wife, saying, “To-night, mistress, make two beds.”
مرد زن را گفت پنهانی سخن ** که امشب ای خاتون دو جامه خواب کن
Lay our bed towards the door, and lay a bed on the other side for the guest.”3650
پستر ما را بگستر سوی در ** بهر مهمان گستر آن سوی دگر
The wife replied, “I will do (this) service, I shall be glad (to do it). To hear is to obey, O light of mine eyes!”
گفت زن خدمت کنم شادی کنم ** سمع و طاعه ای دو چشم روشنم
The wife laid both the beds and (then) went off to the circumcision feast and stayed there (a long time).
هر دو پستر گسترید و رفت زن ** سوی ختنه‌سور کرد آنجا وطن
The worthy guest and her husband remained (in the house): the host set before him a dessert of fruit and wine.
ماند مهمان عزیز و شوهرش ** نقل بنهادند از خشک و ترش
Both the excellent men related (to each other) their good and bad experiences (and sat) chatting till midnight.
در سمر گفتند هر دو منتجب ** سرگذشت نیک و بد تا نیم شب
Afterwards the guest, being sleepy and tired of talking, went to the bed that was on the opposite side to the door.3655
بعد از آن مهمان ز خواب و از سمر ** شد در آن پستر که بد آن سوی در
From (a feeling of) shame (delicacy) the husband did not tell him anything or say, “My dear friend, your bed is on this side;
شوهر از خجلت بدو چیزی نگفت ** که ترا این سوست ای جان جای خفت
I have had the bed for you to sleep in laid over there, most noble sir.”
که برای خواب تو ای بوالکرم ** پستر آن سوی دگر افکنده‌ام
(So) the arrangement which he had made with his wife was altered, and the guest lay down on the other side (of the room).
آن قراری که به زن او داده بود ** گشت مبدل و آن طرف مهمان غنود
During the night it began to rain violently in that place, (and continued so long) that they were astonished at the thickness of the clouds.
آن شب آنجا سخت باران در گرفت ** کز غلیظی ابرشان آمد شگفت
(When) the wife came (home), she thought her husband was sleeping towards the door, and the uncle on the other side.3660
زن بیامد بر گمان آنک شو ** سوی در خفتست و آن سو آن عمو
The wife immediately undressed and went to bed and kissed the guest fondly several times.
رفت عریان در لحاف آن دم عروس ** داد مهمان را به رغبت چند بوس
“O worthy man,” said she, “I was afraid (of this), and now that very thing has happened, that very thing has happened, that very thing!
گفت می‌ترسیدم ای مرد کلان ** خود همان آمد همان آمد همان
The mud and rain have stranded thy guest (here): he is left on thy hands like Government soap.
مرد مهمان را گل و باران نشاند ** بر تو چون صابون سلطانی بماند
How can he set out in this rain and mud? He will become a tax upon thy head and soul.”
اندرین باران و گل او کی رود ** بر سر و جان تو او تاوان شود
The guest at once jumped up and said, “O woman, leave off! I have boots, I don't mind the mud.3665
زود مهمان جست و گفت این زن بهل ** موزه دارم غم ندارم من ز گل
I depart. May good be with you! May your spirit during its (earthly) journey never rejoice (even) for a moment,
من روان گشتم شما را خیر باد ** در سفر یک دم مبادا روح شاد
So that it may the sooner go towards its native home! for this (worldly) pleasure waylays (the traveller) on his journey.”
تا که زوتر جانب معدن رود ** کین خوشی اندر سفر ره‌زن شود
When the distinguished guest started up and went off, the wife was sorry for (having spoken) those unsympathetic words.
زن پشیمان شد از آن گفتار سرد ** چون رمید و رفت آن مهمان فرد
Many a time the wife said to him, “Why, O Amír, if I made a merry jest, don't take offence.”
زن بسی گفتش که آخر ای امیر ** گر مزاحی کردم از طیبت مگیر
The wife's supplication and lament were of no avail: he departed and left them to grieve.3670
سجده و زاری زن سودی نداشت ** رفت و ایشان را در آن حسرت گذاشت
Afterwards the husband and wife clad themselves in blue: they deemed his (radiant) form to be a candle without a basin.
جامه ازرق کرد زان پس مرد و زن ** صورتش دیدند شمعی بی‌لگن
He was going (on his way), and by that man's candle-light the desert was isolated, like Paradise, from the darkness of night.
می‌شد و صحرا ز نور شمع مرد ** چون بهشت از ظلمت شب گشته فرد
He (the husband) made his house a guest-house in sorrow and shame for this (calamitous) event.
کرد مهمان خانه خانه‌ی خویش را ** از غم و از خجلت این ماجرا
In the hearts of them both, (coming) by the hidden way, the phantom of the guest was saying continually,
در درون هر دو از راه نهان ** هر زمان گفتی خیال میهمان
“I am the friend of Khadir: I would have scattered a hundred treasures of munificence (over you), but ’twas not your appointed portion.”3675
که منم یار خضر صد گنج و جود ** می‌فشاندم لیک روزیتان نبود
Comparing the daily thoughts that come into the heart with the new guests who from the beginning of the day alight in the house and behave with arrogance and ill-temper towards the master of the house; and concerning the merit of treating the guest with kindness and of suffering his haughty airs patiently.
تمثیل فکر هر روزینه کی اندر دل آید به مهمان نو کی از اول روز در خانه فرود آید و فضیلت مهمان‌نوازی و ناز مهمان کشیدن و تحکم و بدخویی کند به خداوند خانه
Every day, too, at every moment a (different) thought comes, like an honoured guest, into thy bosom.
هر دمی فکری چو مهمان عزیز ** آید اندر سینه‌ات هر روز نیز
O (dear) soul, regard thought as a person, since (every) person derives his worth from thought and spirit.
فکر را ای جان به جای شخص دان ** زانک شخص از فکر دارد قدر و جان
If the thought of sorrow is waylaying (spoiling) joy, (yet) it is making preparations for joy.
فکر غم گر راه شادی می‌زند ** کارسازیهای شادی می‌کند
It violently sweeps thy house clear of (all) else, in order that new joy from the source of good may enter in.
خانه می‌روبد به تندی او ز غیر ** تا در آید شادی نو ز اصل خیر
It scatters the yellow leaves from the bough of the heart, in order that incessant green leaves may grow.3680
می‌فشاند برگ زرد از شاخ دل ** تا بروید برگ سبز متصل
It uproots the old joy, in order that new delight may march in from the Beyond.
می‌کند بیخ سرور کهنه را ** تا خرامد ذوق نو از ما ورا
Sorrow pulls up the crooked rotten (root), in order that it may disclose the root that is veiled from sight.
غم کند بیخ کژ پوسیده را ** تا نماید بیخ رو پوشیده را
Whatsoever (things) sorrow may cause to be shed from the heart or may take away (from it), assuredly it will bring better in exchange,
غم ز دل هر چه بریزد یا برد ** در عوض حقا که بهتر آورد
Especially for him who knows with certainty (intuitively) that sorrow is the servant of the possessors of (intuitive) certainty.
خاصه آن را که یقینش باشد این ** که بود غم بنده‌ی اهل یقین
Unless the clouds and the lightning show a frowning aspect, the vines will be burnt by the smiles of the sun.3685
گر ترش‌رویی نیارد ابر و برق ** رز بسوزد از تبسمهای شرق
Good and ill fortune become guests in thy heart: like the star (planet), they go from house to house.
سعد و نحس اندر دلت مهمان شود ** چون ستاره خانه خانه می‌رود
At the time when it (the auspicious or inauspicious star) is residing in thy mansion, adapt thyself to it and be agreeable, like its ascendant,
آن زمان که او مقیم برج تست ** باش هم‌چون طالعش شیرین و چست
So that, when it rejoins the Moon, it may speak gratefully of thee to the Lord of the heart.
تا که با مه چون شود او متصل ** شکر گوید از تو با سلطان دل
Job, the (prophet who was) patient and well-pleased (with God), showed sweetness to God's guest during seven years (spent) in tribulation,
هفت سال ایوب با صبر و رضا ** در بلا خوش بود با ضیف خدا
To the end that when the stern-visaged tribulation should turn back (on its way to God), it might give thanks to him in God's presence in a hundred fashions,3690
تا چو وا گردد بلای سخت‌رو ** پیش حق گوید به صدگون شکر او
Saying, “From love (of Thee) Job never for one moment looked sourly on me, the killer of that which is loved.”
کز محبت با من محبوب کش ** رو نکرد ایوب یک لحظه ترش
From his loyalty and his shame before God's knowledge, he (Job) was like milk and honey (in his behaviour) towards tribulation.
از وفا و خجلت علم خدا ** بود چون شیر و عسل او با بلا
(Whenever) the thought (of sorrow) comes into thy breast anew, go to meet it with smiles and laughter,
فکر در سینه در آید نو به نو ** خند خندان پیش او تو باز رو
Saying, “O my Creator, preserve me from its evil: do not deprive me, (but) let me partake, of its good!
که اعذنی خالقی من شره ** لا تحرمنی انل من بره
O my Lord, prompt me to give thanks for that which I see (receive): do not let me feel any subsequent regret, if it (the benefit received) shall pass away.”3695
رب اوزعنی لشکر ما اری ** لا تعقب حسرة لی ان مضی
Pay watchful regard to the sour-looking thought: deem that sour one to be sweet as sugar.
آن ضمیر رو ترش را پاس‌دار ** آن ترش را چون شکر شیرین شمار