I violated the sanctity of His oaths: therefore His judgement (sentence) took my right hand away.
من شکستم عهد و دانستم بدست ** تا رسید آن شومی جرات بدست
I broke my covenant and knew ‘twas evil (to break it), so that (in consequence of my breaking it) that ill-omened audacity reached (recoiled upon) my hand.
دست ما و پای ما و مغز و پوست ** باد ای والی فدای حکم دوست1690
May my hand and my foot and brain and skin be offered in sacrifice, O governer, to the decree of the Beloved!
قسم من بود این ترا کردم حلال ** تو ندانستی ترا نبود وبال
‘Twas my (destined) lot. I absolve thee from this. Thou didst not know: thou hast no guilt (to answer for).
و آنک او دانست او فرمان‌رواست ** با خدا سامان پیچیدن کجاست
And He that knew, He is the One whose command is (every-where) carried into execution: where is the power of struggling with God?”
ای بسا مرغی پریده دانه‌جو ** که بریده حلق او هم حلق او
Oh, many the bird flying in search of grain whose gullet was cut by its gullet (greediness)!
ای بسا مرغی ز معده وز مغص ** بر کنار بام محبوس قفص
Oh, many the bird that, through its belly (appetite) and pangs of hunger, was made captive in a cage on the edge of a terrace!
ای بسا ماهی در آب دوردست ** گشته از حرص گلو ماخوذ شست1695
Oh, many the fish that, because of its gullet’s greed, was caught by a hook in water hard to reach!
ای بسا مستور در پرده بده ** شومی فرج و گلو رسوا شده
Oh, many the chaste (woman) in a curtained bower that was brought to open shame by the misfortune of lust and gluttony! [Oh, many the chaste (woman) in a curtained bower that was brought to open shame by the misfortune of (her) vulva and throat!]
ای بسا قاضی حبر نیک‌خو ** از گلو و رشوتی او زردرو
Oh, many the learned and honest judge that was disgraced by greed and bribery!