He came (home) and fiercely opened the door—the boys (were following) at the master's heels.
آمد و در را بتندی وا گشاد ** کودکان اندر پی آن اوستاد
His wife said, “Is it well (with thee)? How hast thou come (so) soon? May no evil happen to thy goodly person!”
گفت زن خیرست چون زود آمدی ** که مبادا ذات نیکت را بدی
He said, “Are you blind? Look at my colour and appearance: (even) strangers are lamenting my affliction,
گفت کوری رنگ و حال من ببین ** از غمم بیگانگان اندر حنین
(While) you, at home, from hatred and hypocrisy do not see the state of anguish I am in.”
تو درون خانه از بغض و نفاق ** می‌نبینی حال من در احتراق
His wife said, “O sir, there is nothing wrong with thee: ’tis (only) thy vain unreal imagination and opinion.”1570
گفت زن ای خواجه عیبی نیستت ** وهم و ظن لاش بی معنیستت
He said to her, “O strumpet, are you still obstinately disputing (with me)? Don't you see this change (in my appearance) and (this) tremor?
گفتش ای غر تو هنوزی در لجاج ** می‌نبینی این تغیر و ارتجاج
If you have become blind and deaf, what fault of mine is it? I am in this (state of) pain and grief and woe.”
گر تو کور و کر شدی ما را چه جرم ** ما درین رنجیم و در اندوه و گرم
She said, “O sir, I will bring the mirror, in order that thou mayst know that I am innocent.”
گفت ای خواجه بیارم آینه ** تا بدانی که ندارم من گنه
“Begone,” said he; “may neither you nor your mirror be saved! You are always (engaged) in hatred and malice and sin.
گفت رو مه تو رهی مه آینت ** دایما در بغض و کینی و عنت
Lay my bed at once, that I may lie down, for my head is sore.”1575
جامه‌ی خواب مرا زو گستران ** تا بخسپم که سر من شد گران
The wife lingered; the man shouted at her, saying, “O hateful one, (be) quicker! This (behaviour) is worthy of you.”
زن توقف کرد مردش بانگ زد ** کای عدو زوتر ترا این می‌سزد
How the master went to bed and moaned, imagining himself to be ill.
در جامه‌ی خواب افتادن استاد و نالیدن او از وهم رنجوری
The old woman brought the bed-clothes and spread them. She said, “There is no possibility (of speaking), and my heart is filled with burning (grief).
جامه خواب آورد و گسترد آن عجوز ** گفت امکان نه و باطن پر ز سوز
If I speak, he will hold me suspect; and if I say nothing, this affair will become serious.”
گر بگویم متهم دارد مرا ** ور نگویم جد شود این ماجرا
A man who has not suffered any pain is made ill by a bad omen.
فال بد رنجور گرداند همی ** آدمی را که نبودستش غمی
It is obligatory to accept the saying of the Prophet, “If ye pretend to be sick beside me, ye will become (actually) sick.”1580
قول پیغامبر قبوله یفرض ** ان تمارضتم لدینا تمرضوا
“If I tell him (that he is not ill), he will cast up (conceive) a vain fancy (and will think to himself), ‘My wife has an (evil) design, for she is making arrangements to be alone.
گر بگویم او خیالی بر زند ** فعل دارد زن که خلوت می‌کند
She is getting me out of the house, she is plotting and cajoling for the purpose of some wickedness.’”
مر مرا از خانه بیرون می‌کند ** بهر فسقی فعل و افسون می‌کند
She prepared his bed, and the master fell down (upon it): sighs and moans were arising from him.
جامه خوابش کرد و استاد اوفتاد ** آه آه و ناله از وی می‌بزاد
The boys sat there, reciting their lesson with a hundred sorrows in secret,
کودکان آنجا نشستند و نهان ** درس می‌خواندند با صد اندهان
Thinking, “We have done all this and (still) we are prisoners: it was a bad building (a badly devised plan), and we are bad builders.”1585
کین همه کردیم و ما زندانییم ** بد بنایی بود ما بد بانییم
How for the second time the boys made the master imagine (that he was ill), saying that their recitation of the Qur’án would increase his headache.
دوم بار وهم افکندن کودکان استاد را کی او را از قرآن خواندن ما درد سر افزاید
The clever boy said, “O good fellows, recite the lesson and make your voices loud.”
گفت آن زیرک که ای قوم پسند ** درس خوانید و کنید آوا بلند
When they were reciting (loudly), he said, “Boys, the noise we are making will do the master harm.
چون همی‌خواندند گفت ای کودکان ** بانگ ما استاد را دارد زیان
The master's headache will be increased by the noise: is it worth while that he should suffer pain for the sake of (a few) pence?”
درد سر افزاید استا را ز بانگ ** ارزد این کو درد یابد بهر دانگ
The master said, “He is speaking the truth: depart. My headache is worse: go out (of the house)!”