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.
وعده‌هاشان کرد و پیشین هم بداد ** بندگان و اسپان و نقد و جنس و زاد
He made promises to them, and also gave them in advance slaves and horses and money and goods and provisions.
بعد از آن می‌گفت هین ای سابقان ** گر فزون آیید اندر امتحان
After that, he was saying, “Hark, O ye that are foremost (in your art), if ye prove superior in the trial,
برفشانم بر شما چندان عطا ** که بدرد پرده‌ی جود و سخا
I will scatter over you so many gifts that the veil of bounty and munificence will be rent.”
پس بگفتندش به اقبال تو شاه ** غالب آییم و شود کارش تباه
Then they said to him, “Through thy fortune, O King, we shall prevail, and his cause shall be ruined.
ما درین فن صفدریم و پهلوان ** کس ندارد پای ما اندر جهان1250
We are heroes and champions in this art: no one in the world can resist us.”
The mention of Moses has become a chain (obstruction) to the thoughts (of my readers), (for they think) that these are stories (of that) which happened long ago.