کرد شه شمشیر بیرون از غلاف ** تا زند بر وی جزای آن خلاف
The king drew his sword from the scabbard that he might inflict upon him the punishment for that disobedience.
هیچ کس را زهره نه تا دم زند ** یا شفیعی بر شفاعت بر تند2935
No one had the courage to utter a word nor any intercessor to venture on intercession,
جز عمادالملک نامی در خواص ** در شفاعت مصطفی‌وارانه خاص
Except one amongst the courtiers named ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk, (who was) privileged in respect of intercession, like Mustafá (Mohammed).
بر جهید و زود در سجده فتاد ** در زمان شه تیغ قهر از کف نهاد
He sprang up and at once prostrated himself: the king immediately put away from his hand the sword of vengeance,
گفت اگر دیوست من بخشیدمش ** ور بلیسی کرد من پوشیدمش
And said, “If he is the (very) Devil, I forgive him; and if he has done a satanic deed, I cover it up.
چونک آمد پای تو اندر میان ** راضیم گر کرد مجرم صد زیان
Since thou hast intervened, I am satisfied, (even) if the culprit has committed a hundred acts of harm.
صد هزاران خشم را توانم شکست ** که ترا آن فضل و آن مقدار هست2940
I can break (annul) a hundred thousand angers, seeing that thou hast such excellence and such worth;
لابه‌ات را هیچ نتوانم شکست ** زآنک لابه‌ی تو یقین لابه‌ی منست
(But) nowise can I break (annul) thy supplication, because thy supplication is assuredly my supplication.
گر زمین و آسمان بر هم زدی ** ز انتقام این مرد بیرون نامدی
(Even) if he had thrown earth and heaven into confusion, this man would not have escaped from (my) vengeance;
ور شدی ذره به ذره لابه‌گر ** او نبردی این زمان از تیغ سر
And if (the whole world) atom by atom had become a suppliant (for his release), he would not have saved his head from the sword at this moment.
بر تو می‌ننهیم منت ای کریم ** لیک شرح عزت تست ای ندیم
We confer no obligation on thee (by this), O noble one; but (on the contrary) ’tis (only) to explain thy honour (the honour in which I hold thee), O boon-companion.
این نکردی تو که من کردم یقین ** ایی صفاتت در صفات ما دفین2945
Thou didst not make this (intercession), for assuredly I made it, O thou whose qualities are buried in my qualities.
تو درین مستعملی نی عاملی ** زانک محمول منی نی حاملی
In this (matter) thou art the one employed to do the work, not the (prime) doer (of it), inasmuch as thou art borne by me and art not (thyself) the bearer.
ما رمیت اذ رمیت گشته‌ای ** خویشتن در موج چون کف هشته‌ای
Thou hast become (the instrument of my action, according to the text) Thou didst not throw when thou threwest: like the foam, thou hast abandoned thyself in the wave.
لا شدی پهلوی الا خانه‌گیر ** این عجب که هم اسیری هم امیر
Thou hast become ‘not’; (now) take up thy abode beside ‘except.’ This is wonderful, that thou art both a prisoner and a prince.
آنچ دادی تو ندای شاه داد ** اوست بس الله اعلم بالرشاد
Thou didst not give what thou gavest: the king gave it. He alone is. God best knoweth the right course.”
وآن ندیم رسته از زخم و بلا ** زین شفیع آزرد و برگشت از ولا2950
And the boon-companion who had been delivered from the stroke of calamity was offended with this intercessor and drew back from (his former) fealty.
دوستی ببرید زان مخلص تمام ** رو به حایط کرد تا نارد سلام
He cut off all (relations of) friendship with that sincere man, and turned his face to the wall in order that he might not give (him) the salaam.
زین شفیع خویشتن بیگانه شد ** زین تعجب خلق در افسانه شد
He became estranged from his intercessor; in astonishment at this the people began to talk,
که نه مجنونست یاری چون برید ** از کسی که جان او را وا خرید
Saying, “(If) he is not mad, how did he cut off friendly relations with the person who redeemed his life?
وا خریدش آن دم از گردن زدن ** خاک نعل پاش بایستی شدن
He (the intercessor) redeemed (saved) him from beheading at that moment: he (the culprit) ought to have become the dust of his (the intercessor's) shoe.
بازگونه رفت و بیزاری گرفت ** با چنین دلدار کین‌داری گرفت2955
He has gone the reverse way and has taken (the course of) renouncing (his friend): he has taken to cherishing enmity against a beloved like this.”
پس ملامت کرد او را مصلحی ** کیین جفا چون می‌کنی با ناصحی
Then a certain mentor reproached him, saying, “Why are you acting so unjustly towards a loyal friend?
جان تو بخرید آن دلدار خاص ** آن دم از گردن زدن کردت خلاص
That elect beloved redeemed your life and saved you from beheading at that moment.
گر بدی کردی نبایستی رمید ** خاصه نیکی کرد آن یار حمید
If he had done evil (towards you), you ought not to have turned away (from him; but) that praiseworthy friend was especially your benefactor.”