بخش 41 - قصهٔ درویشی کی از آن خانه هرچه می‌خواست می‌گفت نیست

A beggar came to a house and asked for a piece of dry bread or a piece of moist (new) bread.

The owner of the house said, “Where is bread in this place? Are you crazy? How is this (house) a baker's shop?”

“At least,” he begged, “get me a little bit of fat.” “Why,” said he, “it isn't a butcher's shop.”

He said, “O master of the house, give me a pittance of flour.” “Do you think this is a mill?” he replied.

“Well then,” said he, “give me some water from the reservoir.” “Why,” he replied, “it isn't a river or a watering-place.”

Whatever he asked for, from bread to bran, he (the householder) was mocking and deriding him.

The beggar went in and drew up his skirt: in ea domo voluit consulto cacare.

He (the householder) cried, “Hey, hey!” “Be quiet, O morose man,” said he, “ut in hoc loco deserto alvum exonerem.

Since there is no means of living (zístan) here, upon a house like this cacare (rístan) oportet.”

Since you are not a falcon, so as to (be able to) catch the prey, (a falcon) handtrained for the King's hunting;

Nor a peacock painted with a hundred (beautiful) designs, so that (all) eyes should be illumined by the picture which you present;

Nor a parrot, so that when sugar is given to you, (all) ears should bend to (listen to) your sweet talk;

Nor a nightingale to sing, like a lover, sweetly and plaintively in the meadow or the tulip-garden;

Nor a hoopoe to bring messages, nor are you like a stork to make your nest on high—

In what work are you (employed), and for what (purpose) are you bought? What (sort of) bird are you, and with what (digestive) are you eaten?

Mount beyond this shop of hagglers to the shop of Bounty where God is the purchaser.

(There) that Gracious One hath purchased the piece of goods that no people would look at on account of its shabbiness.

With Him no base coin is rejected, for His object in buying is not (to make a) profit.