“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)!”
They bowed and said, “O honoured sir, may illness and danger be far from you!”1590
سجده کردند و بگفتند ای کریم ** دور بادا از تو رنجوری و بیم
Then they bounded off to their homes, like birds in desire of grain.
پس برون جستند سوی خانهها ** همچو مرغان در هوای دانهها
Their mothers became angry with them and said, “A school-day and you at play!”
مادرانشان خشمگین گشتند و گفت ** روز کتاب و شما با لهو جفت
They offered excuses (every one of them), saying, “Stop, mother! This sin does not proceed from us and is not caused by our fault.
عذر آوردند کای مادر تو بیست ** این گناه از ما و از تقصیر نیست
By the destiny of Heaven our master has become ill and sick and afflicted.”
از قضای آسمان استاد ما ** گشت رنجور و سقیم و مبتلا
The mothers said, “It is a trick and a lie: ye bring forward a hundred lies because of your greed for buttermilk.1595
مادران گفتند مکرست و دروغ ** صد دروغ آرید بهر طمع دوغ
In the morning we will come to (visit) the master, that we may see (what is at) the bottom of this trick of yours.”
ما صباح آییم پیش اوستا ** تا ببینیم اصل این مکر شما
“Go in God's name,” said the boys; “inform yourselves as to our lying or telling the truth.”
کودکان گفتند بسم الله روید ** بر دروغ و صدق ما واقف شوید
How the mothers of the boys went to visit the sick master.
رفتن مادران کودکان به عیادت اوستاد
At morning those mothers came; (they found) the master in bed like one who is gravely ill,
بامدادان آمدند آن مادران ** خفته استا همچو بیمار گران
Perspiring on account of the great number of coverlets, his head bandaged and his face enveloped in the quilt.
هم عرق کرده ز بسیاری لحاف ** سر ببسته رو کشیده در سجاف
He was moaning softly: they too all began to cry “Lá hawl.”1600
آه آهی میکند آهسته او ** جملگان گشتند هم لا حولگو
They said, “Master, we hope all will be well. This headache— by thy soul, we were not aware of it.”
خیر باشد اوستاد این درد سر ** جان تو ما را نبودست زین خبر
He replied, “I also was not aware of it; the whoresons (the scoundrelly boys) made me aware (of it), mark you.
گفت من هم بیخبر بودم ازین ** آگهم مادر غران کردند هین
I did not notice (it), through being busy with discourse (teaching), (but) within (me) there was such a severe malady.”
من بدم غافل بشغل قال و قیل ** بود در باطن چنین رنجی ثقیل
When a man is busy in earnest, he is blind to the sight of (unconscious of) his pain.
چون بجد مشغول باشد آدمی ** او ز دید رنج خود باشد عمی
It has become an oft-told tale concerning the women of Joseph's Egypt that consciousness departed from them on account of their pre-occupation (with the beauty of Joseph).1605
از زنان مصر یوسف شد سمر ** که ز مشغولی بشد زیشان خبر