بعد از آن اطلاق و تبشان شد پدید ** کارشان تا نزع و جان کندن رسید
Afterwards diarrhoea and fever appeared in them, and their case reached the last gasp and the death-agony.
پس فرستادند مردی در زمان ** سوی موسی از برای عذر آن
Then at once they sent a man to Moses to excuse that (which they had done),
کامتحان کردیم و ما را کی رسد ** امتحان تو اگر نبود حسد
Saying, “We have put (thee) to the test, and how should (the thought of) testing thee occur to us unless there be envy (as a motive)?
مجرم شاهیم ما را عفو خواه ** ای تو خاص الخاص درگاه اله
We are sinners against the King (God): do thou crave pardon for us, O thou that art the elect of the elect of the Court of God.”
عفو کرد و در زمان نیکو شدند ** پیش موسی بر زمین سر می‌زدند1240
He pardoned (them), and at once they became well; they were striking their heads upon the earth (prostrating themselves) in the presence of Moses.
گفت موسی عفو کردم ای کرام ** گشت بر دوزخ تن و جانتان حرام
Moses said, “I pardon (you), O nobles: your bodies and souls have become unlawful to (immune from) Hell.
من شما را خود ندیدم ای دو یار ** اعجمی سازید خود را ز اعتذار
Verily (’tis as though) I did not see you; O (my) two friends, make yourselves strangers to (refrain from) exculpation.
همچنان بیگانه‌شکل و آشنا ** در نبرد آیید بهر پادشا
Come, even as ye are, alien in appearance (but) familiar (in reality), to combat for the King (God).”
پس زمین را بوسه دادند و شدند ** انتظار وقت و فرصت می‌بدند
Then they kissed the earth and departed: they were waiting in expectation of the time and opportunity.
جمع آمدن ساحران از مداین پیش فرعون و تشریفها یافتن و دست بر سینه زدن در قهر خصم او کی این بر ما نویس
How the magicians from the cities assembled before Pharaoh and received robes of honour and laid their hands upon their breasts, (pledging themselves) to subdue his enemy (Moses), and saying, “Write this down against us.”
تا بفرعون آمدند آن ساحران ** دادشان تشریفهای بس گران1245
Those magicians came unto Pharaoh, and he gave them robes of honour exceedingly precious.