Original content

English translation

A clay-eater went before a perfumer\nTo buy refined, choice, pure sugar.\n\nFor the perfumer, that crafty, suspicious man,\nThe counterweight of the scale was clay.\n\nHe said: "Clay is my counterweight,\nIf you have a wish to buy sugar."\n\nHe said: "I am on an important errand seeking sugar;\nLet the counterweight be whatever you wish, say so."\n\nThe perfumer said to himself: "Before one who eats clay,\nWhat need of a stone? Clay is better than gold."\n\nLike that matchmaker who said: "O young man,\nI have found a new bride, most beautiful and splendid—\n\nVery beautiful, but there is also one thing:\nThat headstrong girl is the daughter of a confectioner."\n\nHe said: "Better still — if it truly be so,\nHer daughter would be even richer and sweeter."\n\n"If you have no stone and your stone is clay,\nSo much the better — clay to me is the fruit of my heart."\n\nIn that pan of the scale, for the balance,\nHe placed the clay in lieu of the counterweight.\n\nThen for the other pan, by hand,\nHe was breaking off sugar equal to that weight.\n\nSince he had no chopper, he lingered long,\nHe seated the customer waiting there.\n\nHis face was turned away; the clay-eater, unable to restrain himself,\nBegan secretly stealing the clay from him—\n\nTrembling with fear: "It must not happen suddenly\nThat his eye falls upon me by way of trial."\n\nThe perfumer saw this and feigned occupation:\n"Steal more, beware, O yellow-faced one!\n\nIf you steal and take of my clay,\nGo ahead — you eat from your own side.\n\nYou fear me, but out of your own foolishness;\nI fear that you will eat too little.\n\nThough I am occupied, I am not such a fool\nThat you should draw more sugar than your half.\n\nWhen you see the sugar upon trial,\nThen you will know who was the fool and who was heedless."\n\nThe bird gazes with pleasure upon that seed,\nAnd the seed, too, from afar waylays it—\n\nFor from the adultery of the eye you take your pleasure,\nNay, you eat roast meat from your own flank.\n\nThis glance from afar is like an arrow and a venom;\nYour love increases, your patience dwindles.\n\nThe wealth of the world is a snare for weak birds;\nThe kingdom of the afterlife is a snare for noble birds—\n\nSo that by this kingdom, which is a deep trap,\nMagnificent birds may be brought into the hunt.\n\nI, Solomon, desire not your kingdoms;\nRather, I shall deliver you from every perdition.\n\nFor now you yourselves are enslaved to dominion;\nThe owner of dominion is he who has leaped free from perdition.\n\nInverted! O prisoner of this world,\nYou have named yourself the prince of this world.\n\nO you who are a slave of this world, your soul imprisoned,\nHow long will you call yourself the master of the world?