دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او میزیند
(But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
چون سماع آمد از اول تا کران ** مطرب آغازید یک ضرب گران535
When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain.
خر برفت و خر برفت آغاز کرد ** زین حراره جمله را انباز کرد
He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
زین حراره پای کوبان تا سحر ** کفزنان خر رفت و خر رفت ای پسر
From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"
از ره تقلید آن صوفی همین ** خر برفت آغاز کرد اندر حنین
By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”
چون گذشت آن نوش و جوش و آن سماع ** روز گشت و جمله گفتند الوداع
When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
خانقه خالی شد و صوفی بماند ** گرد از رخت آن مسافر میفشاند540
The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage.
رخت از حجره برون آورد او ** تا به خر بر بندد آن همراه جو
He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.