خفته بود آن شیر کز خوابست پاک ** اینت شیر نرمسار سهمناک3795
That lion which is immune from sleep was (apparently) asleep: lo, a complaisant terrible lion!
خفته سازد شیر خود را آنچنان ** که تمامش مرده دانند این سگان
The lion feigns to be asleep so (well) that those curs think he is quite dead;
ورنه در عالم کرا زهره بدی ** که ربودی از ضعیفی تربدی
Else, who in the world would dare to rob a poor man (even) of a grain of turpeth mineral?
کف احمد زان نظر مخدوش گشت ** بحر او از مهر کف پرجوش گشت
The foam (body) of Ahmad was torn (powerfully affected) by that sight (of Gabriel), (but) his sea (spirit) surged up (displayed itself in action) for love of the foam.
مه همه کفست معطی نورپاش ** ماه را گر کف نباشد گو مباش
The moon (the spirit of Ahmad) is entirely a bounteous light-diffusing hand: if the moon have no hand (with which to bestow light), let it have none!
احمد ار بگشاید آن پر جلیل ** تا ابد بیهوش ماند جبرئیل3800
If Ahmad should display that glorious pinion (his spiritual nature), Gabriel would remain dumbfounded unto everlasting.
چون گذشت احمد ز سدره و مرصدش ** وز مقام جبرئیل و از حدش
When Ahmad passed beyond the Lote-tree (on the boundary of Paradise) and his (Gabriel's) place of watch and station and farthest limit,
گفت او را هین بپر اندر پیم ** گفت رو رو من حریف تو نیم
He said to him (Gabriel), “Hark, fly after me.” He (Gabriel) said, “Go, go; I am not thy companion (any farther).”
باز گفت او را بیا ای پرده‌سوز ** من باوج خود نرفتستم هنوز
He answered him, saying, “Come, O destroyer of veils: I have not yet advanced to my zenith.”
گفت بیرون زین حد ای خوش‌فر من ** گر زنم پری بسوزد پر من
He replied, “O my illustrious friend, if I take one flight beyond this limit, my wings will be consumed.”