بخش 118 - مراعات کردن زن شوهر را و استغفار کردن از گفتهٔ خویش

When the wife saw that he was fierce and unmanageable, she began to weep: tears in sooth are a woman's lure.

She said, “When did I imagine such (words) from thee? I hoped of thee something different.”

The wife approached by the way of self-naughting (self-abasement). “I am thy dust,” said she, “not (worthy to be) thy lady- wife.

Body and soul and all I am is thine: the entire authority and command belongs to thee.

If because of poverty my heart has lost patience, it is not for my own sake, but for thine.

Thou hast been my remedy in afflictions: I am unwilling that thou shouldst be penniless.

On my soul and conscience, this is not for my own sake: this wailing and moaning is on account of thee.

(I swear) by God that at every moment my self would fain die for thy self before thee.

Would that thy soul, to which my soul is devoted, were aware of my soul's inmost thoughts!

Inasmuch as thou hast such (an ill) opinion of me, I am grown weary both of soul and of body.

I cast earth on (renounce) silver and gold, since thou behavest thus to me, O comfort of my soul.

Thou who dwellest in my soul and heart, wilt thou declare thyself to be quit of me for this (small) amount (of offence)?

Be quit (then)! for thou hast the power, (but) oh, my soul pleads against thy making this declaration.

Remember the time when I was (beautiful) as the idol, and thou (adoring) as the idolater.

Thy slave has kindled her heart (in eagerness) to comply with thee: whatever thou callest ‘cooked,’ she says it is ‘burnt.’

Whatever thou mayst cook me with, I am thy spinach: whether (thou art) sour broth (to me) or sweet, thou art worthy (of my affection).

I uttered infidelity (blasphemy): lo, I have returned to the true faith, I am come (to submit) with all my soul to thy command.

I did not know thy kingly nature, I rudely urged my beast (intruded) before thee.

Since I have made (for myself) a lamp of thy forgiveness, I repent, I cast away (abandon) opposition.

I am laying before thee sword and winding-sheet: I am bending my neck towards thee: smite!

Thou art talking of bitter separation (from me): do whatever thou wilt, but do not this.

Thy conscience within thee is a pleader on my behalf, it is a perpetual intercessor with thee in my absence.

What pleads within thee for me is thy (noble) nature: from reliance on it my heart sought (to) sin (against thee).

Have mercy, unbeknown to thyself (without any self-conceit), O angry one, O thou whose nature is better than a hundred maunds of honey.”

In this fashion was she speaking graciously and winningly: meanwhile a (fit of) weeping came upon her.

When the tears and sobs passed beyond bounds—from her who was fascinating even without tears—

There appeared from that rain a lightning-flash (that) shot a spark of fire into the heart of the lonely man.

She by whose beauteous face man was enslaved, how will it be when she begins to play the (humble) slave?

She at whose haughtiness thy heart is trembling, how wilt thou fare when she falls aweeping before thee?

She from whose disdain thy heart and soul are bleeding, how will it be when she turns to entreaty?

She in whose tyranny and cruelty we are snared, what plea shall we have when she rises to plead?

(The love of desired things, women, etc.) is decked out for men (made attractive to them): God has arranged it: how can they escape from what God has arranged?

Inasmuch as He created her (the woman) that he (Adam) might take comfort in her, how can Adam be parted from Eve?

Though he (the husband) be Rustam son of Zál and greater than Hamza (in valour), as regards authority he is his old woman's (his wife's) captive.

He (the Prophet), to whose words the (whole) world was enslaved (obedient), used to cry, “Speak to me, O Humayrá!”

The water prevailed over (extinguished) the fire by its dread onset, (but) the fire makes it seethe when it (the water) is screened (hidden in the cauldron).

When a cauldron comes between (them), O king, it (the fire) annihilates the water and converts it into air.

If outwardly thou art dominating thy wife, like the (fire-quenching) water, (yet) inwardly thou art dominated and art seeking (the love of) thy wife.

This is characteristic of Man (alone): to the (other) animals love is wanting, and that (want of love) arises from (their) inferiority (to Man).