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
(Hence) they cut their fore-arms to pieces: (in such a case) the spirit is distraught, so that it looks neither behind nor before.
پاره پاره کرده ساعدهای خویش ** روح واله که نه پس بیند نه پیش
Oh, many a brave man in battle whose hand or foot is cut by blows (of the sword),
ای بسا مرد شجاع اندر حراب ** که ببرد دست یا پایش ضراب
And he bears that same hand into the combat, thinking that it remains firm (intact).
او همان دست آورد در گیر و دار ** بر گمان آنک هست او بر قرار
(Afterwards) indeed he will see that his hand has been injured (and that) much blood has gone from him unawares.
خود ببیند دست رفته در ضرر ** خون ازو بسیار رفته بیخبر
Explaining that the body is as a garment to the spirit, and that this (bodily) hand is the sleeve of the spirit's hand, and that this (bodily) foot is the shoe of the spirit's foot.
در بیان آنک تن روح را چون لباسی است و این دست آستین دست روحست واین پای موزهی پای روحست