ز آهن تیره بقدرت می‌نمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود
From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,
تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همی‌دیدی و بتر می‌شدی
In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.
نقشهای زشت خوابت می‌نمود ** می‌رمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود
He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;
هم‌چو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید2490
Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]
که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس
Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.
این حدث بر روی زشتت می‌کنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی
Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’
گاه می‌دیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته
At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;
گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده
Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;