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6
253-302

  • When the girl had almost reached womanhood, the suitors (for her hand) were offering heavy dowries,
  • چون مراهق گشت دختر طالبان  ** بذل می‌کردند کابین گران 
  • And there was continually coming to him (the Khwája) from every nobleman a wooer to ask for the girl (in marriage).
  • می‌رسیدش از سوی هر مهتری  ** بهر دختر دم به دم خوزه‌گری 
  • The Khwája said (to himself), “Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning, and at night it goes in all directions (is scattered to the winds). 255
  • گفت خواجه مال را نبود ثبات  ** روز آید شب رود اندر جهات 
  • Physical beauty too has no importance, for a (rosy) face is made yellow (pale) by a single thorn-scratch.
  • حسن صورت هم ندارد اعتبار  ** که شود رخ زرد از یک زخم خار 
  • Noble birth also is of small account, for he (such an one) is befooled by money and horses.”
  • سهل باشد نیز مهترزادگی  ** که بود غره به مال و بارگی 
  • Oh, there is many a nobleman's son who in riot and mischief has disgraced his father by his wicked deeds.
  • ای بسا مهتربچه کز شور و شر  ** شد ز فعل زشت خود ننگ پدر 
  • Do not court a man full of talent either, (even) if he be exquisite (in that respect), and take a warning from (the example of) Iblís.
  • پر هنر را نیز اگر باشد نفیس  ** کم پرست و عبرتی گیر از بلیس 
  • He (Iblís) had knowledge, (but) since he had not religious love, he beheld in Adam nothing but a figure of clay. 260
  • علم بودش چون نبودش عشق دین  ** او ندید از آدم الا نقش طین 
  • Though you may know (all) the minutiae of knowledge, O trustworthy (scholar), not by that (means) will your two (inward) eyes that discern the invisible be opened.
  • گرچه دانی دقت علم ای امین  ** زانت نگشاید دو دیده‌ی غیب‌بین 
  • He (the scholar) sees nothing but a turban and beard: he asks the announcer (for information) about his (the stranger's) merits and demerits.
  • او نبیند غیر دستاری و ریش  ** از معرف پرسد از بیش و کمیش 
  • (But) you, O knower (of God), have no need of the announcer: you see for yourself, for you are the rising light.
  • عارفا تو از معرف فارغی  ** خود همی‌بینی که نور بازغی 
  • The (only) thing that matters is fear of God and religion and piety, of which the result is happiness in both worlds.
  • کار تقوی دارد و دین و صلاح  ** که ازو باشد بدو عالم فلاح 
  • He (the Khwája) chose a pious son-in-law who was the pride of the whole clan and stock. 265
  • کرد یک داماد صالح اختیار  ** که بد او فخر همه خیل و تبار 
  • Then the women said, “He has no riches, he has neither nobility nor beauty nor independence.”
  • پس زنان گفتند او را مال نیست  ** مهتری و حسن و استقلال نیست 
  • He replied, “Those things are secondary to asceticism and religion: he (the pious man), (though) without gold, is a treasure on the face of the earth.”
  • گفت آنها تابع زهدند و دین  ** بی‌زر او گنجیست بر روی زمین 
  • When it became known that the girl was going to be married in earnest, (as was proved by) the hand-promise, the tokens, and the wedding-outfit,
  • چون به جد تزویج دختر گشت فاش  ** دست پیمان و نشانی و قماش 
  • The little slave, who was in the house, immediately became ill and weak and poorly.
  • پس غلام خرد که اندر خانه بود  ** گشت بیمار و ضعیف و زار زود 
  • He was wasting away like one suffering from phthisis: no physician could recognise his ailment. 270
  • هم‌چو بیمار دقی او می‌گداخت  ** علت او را طبیبی کم شناخت 
  • Reason declared that the malady had its source in his heart (and that) medicine for the body is useless for heart-ache.
  • عقل می‌گفتی که رنجش از دلست  ** داروی تن در غم دل باطلست 
  • The little slave breathed no word of his (real) state and did not tell what was the cause of the pangs in his breast.
  • آن غلامک دم نزد از حال خویش  ** کز چه می‌آید برو در سینه نیش 
  • One night the husband said to his wife, “Ask him privately what is the matter with him.
  • گفت خاتون را شبی شوهر که تو  ** باز پرسش در خلا از حال او 
  • You are in the place of a mother to him: maybe he will disclose his trouble to you.”
  • تو به جای مادری او را بود  ** که غم خود پیش تو پیدا کند 
  • When the mistress heard these words, next day she went to the slave. 275
  • چونک خاتون در گوش این کلام  ** روز دیگر رفت نزدیک غلام 
  • Then the dame combed his head very fondly with many endearments and signs of friendliness.
  • پس سرش را شانه می‌کرد آن ستی  ** با دو صد مهر و دلال و آشتی 
  • In the fashion of fond mothers she soothed him until he began to explain,
  • آنچنان که مادران مهربان  ** نرم کردش تا در آمد در بیان 
  • Saying, “I did not expect this from you—that you would give your daughter to a cross-grained stranger.
  • که مرا اومید از تو این نبود  ** که دهی دختر به بیگانه‌ی عنود 
  • She is my master's child, and I am heart-sick: is it not a shame that she should go elsewhere (as a bride)?”
  • خواجه‌زاده‌ی ما و ما خسته‌جگر  ** حیف نبود که رود جای دگر 
  • The mistress, (impelled) by the anger that rose in her, was about to strike him and hurl him down from the roof, 280
  • خواست آن خاتون ز خشمی که آمدش  ** که زند وز بام زیر اندازدش 
  • Saying (to herself), “Who is he, a whoreson Hindú, that he should desire a Khwája's daughter?”
  • کو که باشد هندوی مادرغری  ** که طمع دارد به خواجه دختری 
  • (But) she said, “Patience is best,” and restrained herself; (afterwards) she said to the Khwája, “Listen to this wonderful thing!
  • گفت صبر اولی بود خود را گرفت  ** گفت با خواجه که بشنو این شگفت 
  • Such a wretched slave a traitor! (And) we thought he could be trusted!”
  • این چنین گراء کی خاین بود  ** ما گمان برده که هست او معتمد 
  • How the Khwája bade the girl's mother be patient, saying, “Don't scold the slave: without scolding him I will make him abandon this desire in such a way that neither will the spit be burnt nor the meat be left uncooked.
  • صبر فرمودن خواجه مادر دختر را کی غلام را زجر مکن من او را بی‌زجر ازین طمع باز آرم کی نه سیخ سوزد نه کباب خام ماند 
  • “Have patience,” said the Khwája: “tell him, ‘We will break off (the match) with him (the prospective bridegroom) and give her to you,’
  • گفت خواجه صبر کن با او بگو  ** که ازو ببریم و بدهیمش به تو 
  • That perchance I may banish this (hope) from his mind: watch and see how I will thwart him. 285
  • تا مگر این از دلش بیرون کنم  ** تو تماشا کن که دفعش چون کنم 
  • Gladden his heart and say, ‘Know for sure that our daughter is really your (destined) spouse.
  • تو دلش خوش کن بگو می‌دان درست  ** که حقیقت دختر ما جفت تست 
  • O goodly wooer, we didn't know (that you desired her): (now), since we know (that), you are the most worthy.
  • ما ندانستیم ای خوش مشتری  ** چونک دانستیم تو اولیتری 
  • Our fire is in our own hearth: Laylá (the bride) is ours, and you are our Majnún (bridegroom).’
  • آتش ما هم درین کانون ما  ** لیلی آن ما و تو مجنون ما 
  • (Tell him this) in order that happy fancies and thoughts may affect him: sweet thoughts make a man fat.
  • تا خیال و فکر خوش بر وی زند  ** فکر شیرین مرد را فربه کند 
  • An animal is made fat, but (only) by fodder; man is fattened by honour and eminence. 290
  • جانور فربه شود لیک از علف  ** آدمی فربه ز عزست و شرف 
  • Man is fattened through his ear; an animal is fattened through its gullet and by eating and drinking.”
  • آدمی فربه شود از راه گوش  ** جانور فربه شود از حلق و نوش 
  • The mistress said, “Such a vile disgrace! How indeed shall my lips move in this matter?
  • گفت آن خاتون ازین ننگ مهین  ** خود دهانم کی بجنبد اندرین 
  • Why should I talk drivel like this for his sake? Let the devilish traitor die!”
  • این چنین ژاژی چه خایم بهر او  ** گو بمیر آن خاین ابلیس‌خو 
  • “Nay,” replied the Khwája, “have no fear, but wheedle him, in order that his illness may depart from him by virtue of this sweet flattery.
  • گفت خواجه نی مترس و دم دهش  ** تا رود علت ازو زین لطف خوش 
  • Charge me with the task of thwarting him, O beloved, and let that spinner of fine yarns regain his health.” 295
  • دفع او را دلبرا بر من نویس  ** هل که صحت یابد آن باریک‌ریس 
  • When the mistress had spoken in this strain to the invalid, on account of his swagger there was no room for him on the earth.
  • چون بگفت آن خسته را خاتون چنین  ** می‌نگنجید از تبختر بر زمین 
  • He grew stout and fat and red(-cheeked), and bloomed like a red rose and gave a thousand thanks.
  • زفت گشت و فربه و سرخ و شکفت  ** چون گل سرخ هزاران شکر گفت 
  • Now and again he would say, “O my mistress, (I am afraid) lest this may be a deception and trick.”
  • که گهی می‌گفت ای خاتون من  ** که مبادا باشد این دستان و فن 
  • The Khwája gave a party and a feast, saying (to his guests), “I am making a match for Faraj,”
  • خواجه جمعیت بکرد و دعوتی  ** که همی‌سازم فرج را وصلتی 
  • So that the company chaffed and quizzed (him) and said, “May your marriage be blessed, O Faraj!” 300
  • تا جماعت عشوه می‌دادند و گان  ** که ای فرج بادت مبارک اتصال 
  • With the result that the promise seemed to Faraj more sure, and his illness vanished entirely and radically.
  • تا یقین‌تر شد فرج را آن سخن  ** علت از وی رفت کل از بیخ و بن 
  • Afterwards, on the wedding-night, he (the Khwája) artfully dyed (the hands and feet of) a youth with henna, like (those of) a woman.
  • بعد از آن اندر شب گردک به فن  ** امردی را بست حنی هم‌چو زن