How the wife, for the sake of imposition, hid the beloved one under her chádar and offered a false excuse, “for verily, great is the cunning of you (women).”
شاعر: رومی
وزن: فاعلاتن فاعلاتن فاعلن (رمل مسدس محذوف یا وزن مثنوی)
صنف: مثنوی
She quickly threw her chádar upon him: she made the man a woman and opened the door.
Beneath the chádar the man was exposed to view and clearly seen—very conspicuous, like a camel on a staircase.
She said, ‘’Tis a lady, one of the notables of the town: she has her share of wealth and fortune.
I bolted the door, lest any stranger should come in suddenly unawares.’
The Súfí said, ‘Oh, what service is there (to be done) for her, that I may perform it
without (expecting) any thanks or favour (in return)?’
She (the wife) said, ‘Her desire is kinship and alliance (with us): she is an excellent lady, God knows who she is.
She wished to see our daughter privily; (but) as it happens, the girl is at school; (So) then she said, Whether she (the daughter) be flour or bran, with (all my) soul and heart I will make her (my son's) bride.
She has a son, who is not in the town: he is handsome and clever, an active lad and one that earns a living.’
The Súfí said, ‘We are poor and wretched and inferior (in station); this lady's family are rich and respected.
How should this (girl) be an equal match for them in marriage?—one folding door of wood and another of ivory!
In wedlock both the partners must be equal, otherwise it will pinch, and (their) happiness will not endure.’
