Except that old man none of those who begged (aloud) saw half a mite or a single farthing of his money.
غیر آن پیر ایچ خواهنده ازو ** نیم حبه زر ندید و نه تسو
On the day when it was the turn of the jurists (to receive alms), a certain jurist, (impelled) by cupidity, suddenly began to whine.
نوبت روز فقیهان ناگهان ** یک فقیه از حرص آمد در فغان
He made many piteous appeals, but there was no help (for him); he uttered every kind (of entreaty), but it availed him naught.
کرد زاری‌ها بسی چاره نبود ** گفت هر نوعی نبودش هیچ سود
Next day he wrapped his leg in rags (and stood) in the row of the sufferers (from illness), hanging his head.3820
روز دیگر با رگو پیچید پا ** ناکس اندر صف قوم مبتلا
He tied splints on his shank, left and right, in order that it might be supposed that his leg was broken.
تخته‌ها بر ساق بست از چپ و راست ** تا گمان آید که او اشکسته‌پاست
He (the Sadr) saw and recognised him and did not give him anything. Next day he covered his face with a rain-cloak,
دیدش و بشناختش چیزی نداد ** روز دیگر رو بپوشید از لباد
(But) the noble lord knew him still and gave him nothing because of the sin and crime (which he had committed) by speaking.
هم بدانستش ندادش آن عزیز ** از گناه و جرم گفتن هیچ چیز
When he had failed in a hundred sorts of trickery, he drew a chádar over his head, like women,
چونک عاجز شد ز صد گونه مکید ** چون زنان او چادری بر سر کشید
And went and sat down amongst the widows, and let his head droop and concealed his hands.3825
در میان بیوگان رفت و نشست ** سر فرو افکند و پنهان کرد دست
Still he (the Sadr) recognised him and did not give him any alms: on account of the disappointment a (feeling of) burning grief came into his heart.
هم شناسیدش ندادش صدقه‌ای ** در دلش آمد ز حرمان حرقه‌ای
He went early in the morning to a purveyor of grave-clothes, saying, “Wrap me in a felt (shroud) and lay me out on the road.
رفت او پیش کفن‌خواهی پگاه ** که بپیچم در نمد نه پیش راه
Do not open thy lips at all, (but) sit down and look on till the Sadr-i Jahán passes here.
هیچ مگشا لب نشین و می‌نگر ** تا کند صدر جهان اینجا گذر
Maybe he will see (me) and suppose that I am dead and drop some money to cover the cost of the shroud.
بوک بیند مرده پندار به ظن ** زر در اندازد پی وجه کفن
I will pay thee half of whatever he may give.” The poor man, desiring the (expected) present, did just as he was told.3830
هر چه بدهد نیم آن بدهم به تو ** هم‌چنان کرد آن فقیر صله‌جو
He wrapped him in the felt and laid him out on the road. The Sadr-i Jahán happened to pass that way
در نمد پیچید و بر راهش نهاد ** معبر صدر جهان آنجا فتاد
And dropped some gold on the felt (shroud). He (the jurist) put forth his hand in his haste (and fear)
زر در اندازید بر روی نمد ** دست بیرون کرد از تعجیل خود
Lest the purveyor of the grave-clothes should seize the gift of money and lest that perfidious rascal should hide it from him.
تا نگیرد آن کفن‌خواه آن صله ** تا نهان نکند ازو آن ده‌دله
The dead man raised his hand from beneath the felt (shroud), and, following his hand, his head (too) came forth from below.
مرده از زیر نمد بر کرد دست ** سر برون آمد پی دستش ز پست
He said to the Sadr-i Jahán, “(See) how I have received (it), O thou who didst shut the doors of generosity against me!”3835
گفت با صدر جهان چون بستدم ** ای ببسته بر من ابواب کرم
He (the Sadr) replied, “(Yes), but until you died, O obstinate man, you got no bounty from me.”
گفت لیکن تا نمردی ای عنود ** از جناب من نبردی هیچ جود
The mystery of “Die before death” is this, that the prizes come after dying (and not before).
سر موتوا قبل موت این بود ** کز پس مردن غنیمت‌ها رسد
Except dying, no other skill avails with God, O artful schemer.
غیر مردن هیچ فرهنگی دگر ** در نگیرد با خدای ای حیله‌گر
One (Divine) favour is better than a hundred kinds of (personal) effort: (such) exertion is in danger from a hundred kinds of mischief.
یک عنایت به ز صد گون اجتهاد ** جهد را خوفست از صد گون فساد
And the (Divine) favour depends on dying: the trustworthy (authorities) have put this way (doctrine) to the test.3840
وآن عنایت هست موقوف ممات ** تجربه کردند این ره را ثقات
Nay, not even his (the mystic's) death is (possible) without the (Divine) favour: hark, hark, do not tarry anywhere without the (Divine) favour!
بلک مرگش بی‌عنایت نیز نیست ** بی‌عنایت هان و هان جایی مه‌ایست
That (favour) is (like) an emerald, and this (carnal self) is (like) an old viper: without the emerald how should the viper be made blind?
آن زمرد باشد این افعی پیر ** بی زمرد کی شود افعی ضریر
Story of two brothers, one of whom had a few hairs on his chin while the other was a beardless boy. They went to sleep in a house for celibates. One night, as it happened, the boy lateribus congestis nates obtexit. Denique paedicator adrepsit, lateres ab ejus tergo callide et molliter summovit. [One night, as it happened, the boy piled bricks on his buttocks (as protection). At length, a crawler (sodomizer) crept (near) and craftily and softly took off the bricks from behind him.] The boy awoke and began to quarrel, saying, “Where are these bricks? Where have you taken them to? Why did you take them?” He replied, “Why did you put these bricks there?” etc.
حکایت آن دو برادر یکی کوسه و یکی امرد در عزب خانه‌ای خفتند شبی اتفاقا امرد خشتها بر مقعد خود انبار کرد عاقبت دباب دب آورد و آن خشتها را به حیله و نرمی از پس او برداشت کودک بیدار شد به جنگ کی این خشتها کو کجا بردی و چرا بردی او گفت تو این خشتها را چرا نهادی الی آخره
A beardless boy and a youth with a few hairs on his chin came to a festive gathering, for there was an assembly-place in the town.
امردی و کوسه‌ای در انجمن ** آمدند و مجمعی بد در وطن
The select party remained busy (enjoying themselves) till the day was gone and a third of the night had passed.
مشتغل ماندند قوم منتجب ** روز رفت و شد زمانه ثلث شب
The two (brothers) did not leave that house for celibates: they lay down to sleep there for fear of (meeting) the night-patrol.3845
زان عزب‌خانه نرفتند آن دو کس ** هم بخفتند آن سو از بیم عسس
The youth had four hairs on his chin, but his face was like the full-moon (in beauty).
کوسه را بد بر زنخدان چار مو ** لیک هم‌چون ماه بدرش بود رو
The beardless boy was ugly in appearance: post culum tamen viginti lateres posuit. [The beardless boy was ugly in appearance: yet he placed twenty bricks behind (his) buttocks.]
کودک امرد به صورت بود زشت ** هم نهاد اندر پس کون بیست خشت
Paedicator quidam noctu in frequentia hominum adrepsit: lateres amovit vir libidinosus. [A pederast crept through a crowd (of sleepers) at night; the lustful man moved the bricks.]
لوطیی دب برد شب در انبهی ** خشتها را نقل کرد آن مشتهی
Cum manum ei injiceret exsiluit puer: “eho,” inquit, “tu quis homo es, O canis cultor?” [When his hand touched him, he jumped up from his place: “hey,” he asked, “who are you, O worshipper of dogs?”]
دست چون بر وی زد او از جا بجست ** گفت هی تو کیستی ای سگ‌پرست
Respondit: “Cur hos triginta lateres congessisti?” “Tu,” inquit, “cur triginta lateris sustulisti? [He replied, “Why did you heap up these thirty bricks?” “Why,” he asked, “did you take off the thirty bricks?]3850
گفت این سی خشت چون انباشتی ** گفت تو سی خشت چون بر داشتی
I am a sick boy and because of my weakness I took precautions and made here a place to lie down.”
کودک بیمارم و از ضعف خود ** کردم اینجا احتیاط و مرتقد
He replied, “If you are ill with a fever, why didn't you go to the hospital
گفت اگر داری ز رنجوری تفی ** چون نرفتی جانب دار الشفا
Or to the house of a kindly physician, in order that he might relieve you of your malady?”
یا به خانه‌ی یک طبیبی مشفقی ** که گشادی از سقامت مغلقی
“Why,” said he, “where can I go? for wherever I go, persecuted (as I am),
گفت آخر من کجا دانم شدن ** که بهرجا می‌روم من ممتحن
Some foul ungodly miscreant like you springs up before me like a wild beast.3855
چون تو زندیقی پلیدی ملحدی ** می بر آرد سر به پیشم چون ددی
The dervish-convent, which is the best place—not (even) there do I find safety for one moment.
خانقاهی که بود بهتر مکان ** من ندیدم یک دمی در وی امان
A handful of (greedy) pottage-eaters direct their looks at me: oculi semine impleti dum pressant manibus testiculos; [A handful of (greedy) pottage-eaters direct their looks at me: (their) eyes full of sperm (while their) hands (are) squeezing their testicles;]
رو به من آرند مشتی حمزه‌خوار ** چشم‌ها پر نطفه کف خایه‌فشار
And even he that has regard for decorum steals covert glances et penem fricat. [And even he that has regard for decorum steals covert glances (while) rubbing (his) penis.]
وانک ناموسیست خود از زیر زیر ** غمزه دزدد می‌دهد مالش به کیر
Since the convent is (like) this, what must the public market be like? A herd of asses and boorish devils!
خانقه چون این بود بازار عام ** چون بود خر گله و دیوان خام
What has an ass to do with decorum and piety? How should an ass know (anything about) reverence and fear and hope?3860
خر کجا ناموس و تقوی از کجا ** خر چه داند خشیت و خوف و رجا
(Real) intelligence consists in being safe (from temptation) and in the desire to act justly towards (every) woman and towards (every) man; but where is (such) intelligence (to be found)?
عقل باشد آمنی و عدل‌جو ** بر زن و بر مرد اما عقل کو
And if I run away and go to the women, I should fall into tribulation like Joseph.
ور گریزم من روم سوی زنان ** هم‌چو یوسف افتم اندر افتتان
Joseph suffered imprisonment and torment at the hands of a woman: I should be divided amongst fifty gibbets.
یوسف از زن یافت زندان و فشار ** من شوم توزیع بر پنجاه دار
Those women in their foolishness would attach themselves to me, and (then) their nearest and dearest (relatives by blood or marriage) would seek my life.
آن زنان از جاهلی بر من تنند ** اولیاشان قصد جان من کنند
I have no means of escape either from men or women: what can I do, since I belong neither to these nor to those?”3865
نه ز مردان چاره دارم نه از زنان ** چون کنم که نی ازینم نه از آن
After (making) that (complaint) the boy looked at the youth and said, “He is quit of trouble by reason of the two (or three) hairs (on his chin).
بعد از آن کودک به کوسه بنگریست ** گفت او با آن دو مو از غم بریست