اندر آن وهم امیری کم بود ** در حشم تاثیر آن محکم بود
In that (kind of exhortation) the conceit of princedom is less (than in the other kind): the impression made by it upon the (prince’s) followers is strong.
قصه‌ی آغاز خلافت عثمان رضی الله عنه و خطبه‌ی وی در بیان آنک ناصح فعال به فعل به از ناصح قوال به قول
Story of the beginning of the Caliphate of ‘Uthmán, may God be well-pleased with him, and his sermon expounding that the doer who exhorts by deeds is better than the speaker who exhorts by words.
قصه‌ی عثمان که بر منبر برفت ** چون خلافت یافت بشتابید تفت
The story (told) of ‘Uthmán is that he mounted the pulpit: when he obtained the Caliphate, he made hot haste (to mount it).
منبر مهتر که سه‌پایه بدست ** رفت بوبکر و دوم پایه نشست
(’Twas) the pulpit of the Chief (Mohammed), which had three steps: Abú Bakr went and seated himself on the second step.
بر سوم پایه عمر در دور خویش ** از برای حرمت اسلام و کیش
‘Umar, in his reign, (sat) on the third step in order to show reverence for Islam and the (true) Religion.
دور عثمان آمد او بالای تخت ** بر شد و بنشست آن محمودبخت490
(When) the reign of ‘Uthmán arrived, he, that man of praised (blessed) fortune, went up on to the top of the throne (pulpit) and seated himself.
پس سالش کرد شخصی بوالفضول ** که آن دو ننشستند بر جای رسول
Then a person given to idle meddling questioned him, saying, “Those two did not sit in the Prophet's place:
پس تو چون جستی ازیشان برتری ** چون برتبت تو ازیشان کمتری
How, then, hast thou sought to be higher than they, when thou art inferior to them in rank?”
گفت اگر پایه‌ی سوم را بسپرم ** وهم آید که مثال عمرم
He replied, “If I tread on the third step, it will be imagined that I resemble ‘Umar;
بر دوم پایه شوم من جای‌جو ** گویی بوبکرست و این هم مثل او
(And if) I seek a seat on the second step, thou wilt say, ‘’Tis (the seat of) Abú Bakr, and (therefore) this one too is like him.’
هست این بالا مقام مصطفی ** وهم مثلی نیست با آن شه مرا495
This top (of the pulpit) is the place of Mustafá (Mohammed): no one will imagine that I am like that (spiritual) King.”