ای شفا و رحمت اصحاب درد ** تو همان کن کان دو نیکوکار کرد
O (thou who art) healing and mercy to the sorrowful, do thou the same as those two benefactors did.”
زود اسرافیل باز آمد به شاه ** گفت عذر و ماجرا نزد اله 1645
At once Seraphiel returned to the King: in God's presence he excused himself and told what had passed,
کز برون فرمان بدادی که بگیر ** عکس آن الهام دادی در ضمیر
Saying, “Outwardly (formally) Thou gavest (me) the command to take (the clay), (but) Thou didst inspire my conscience to do the opposite of that.
امر کردی در گرفتن سوی گوش ** نهی کردی از قساوت سوی هوش
The command to take Thou didst address to my ear, the prohibition against hardheartedness Thou didst address to my understanding.
سبق رحمت گشت غالب بر غضب ** ای بدیع افعال و نیکوکار رب
Mercy, being prior, prevailed over wrath, O Lord whose actions are incomparable and whose dealings are gracious.”
فرستادن عزرائیل ملک العزم و الحزم را علیه‌السلام ببر گرفتن حفنه‌ای خاک تا شود جسم آدم چالاک عیله‌السلام و الصلوة
The sending of Azrael, the Angel of firm resolution and strong mind, on whom be peace, to seize a handful of clay in order that the body of Adam, on whom be peace, might be quickened.
گفت یزدان زو عزرائیل را ** که ببین آن خاک پر تخییل را
Straightway God said to Azrael, “Behold the Earth full of vain imagination!
آن ضعیف زال ظالم را بیاب ** مشت خاکی هین بیاور با شتاب 1650
Find that feeble unjust old crone: hark, fetch a handful of clay and make haste!”
رفت عزرائیل سرهنگ قضا ** سوی کره‌ی خاک بهر اقتضا
Azrael, the captain of the (Divine) Decree, went off towards the terrestrial globe for the purpose of requisition.
خاک بر قانون نفیر آغاز کرد ** داد سوگندش بسی سوگند خورد
The Earth, according to rule, began lamenting loudly: she adjured him, she swore many an oath,
کای غلام خاص و ای حمال عرش ** ای مطاع الامر اندر عرش و فرش
Crying, “O favourite youth (page-of-honour), O bearer of the Throne, O thou whose command is obeyed in heaven and earth,
رو به حق رحمت رحمن فرد ** رو به حق آنک با تو لطف کرد
Depart, for the sake of the mercy of the Merciful (God)! Depart, for the sake of Him who hath shown kindness unto thee!
حق شاهی که جز او معبود نیست ** پیش او زاری کس مردود نیست 1655
(Depart), for the sake of that King who alone is worshipped and with whom no one's lamentation is rejected!”
گفت نتوانم بدین افسون که من ** رو بتابم ز آمر سر و علن
He replied, “These conjurations cannot move me to avert my face from (disobey) the Giver of (all) commands secret or manifest.”
گفت آخر امر فرمود او به حلم ** هر دو امرند آن بگیر از راه علم
She said, “After all, He hath commanded forbearance: both (severity and forbearance) are commanded: take (choose) the latter on the ground of knowledge.”
گفت آن تاویل باشد یا قیاس ** در صریح امر کم جو التباس
He replied, “That would be an interpretation or an inference: do not seek to confuse the plain meaning of the command.
فکر خود را گر کنی تاویل به ** که کنی تاویل این نامشتبه
If thou interpret (alter) thine own thought (so as to make it agree with the command), ’tis better than that thou shouldst interpret (pervert) this unequivocal (command).
دل همی‌سوزد مرا بر لابه‌ات ** سینه‌ام پر خون شد از شورابه‌ات 1660
My heart is burning (melting) at thy supplication, my bosom is filled with blood on account of thy salty tears.
نیستم بی‌رحم بل زان هر سه پاک ** رحم بیشستم ز درد دردناک
I am not pitiless; nay, I have greater pity than those three holy ones for the sorrow of the sorrowful.
گر طبانجه می‌زنم من بر یتیم ** ور دهد حلوا به دستش آن حلیم
If I am slapping an orphan, while a mild-natured person may put halwá (sweetmeat) in his hand,
این طبانجه خوشتر از حلوای او ** ور شود غره به حلوا وای او
Those slaps (of mine) are better (for him) than the other's halwá; and if he be beguiled by the halwá, woe to him!
بر نفیر تو جگر می‌سوزدم ** لیک حق لطفی همی‌آموزدم
My heart is burning at thy lamentable cry, but God is teaching me (to know) a (great) kindness—
لطف مخفی در میان قهرها ** در حدث پنهان عقیق بی‌بها 1665
The kindness concealed amidst cruelties, the priceless cornelian hidden in filth.
قهر حق بهتر ز صد حلم منست ** منع کردن جان ز حق جان کندنست
The cruelty done by God is better than a hundred clemencies of mine: to withhold the soul from God is agony to the soul.
بترین قهرش به از حلم دو کون ** نعم رب‌العالمین و نعم عون
His worst cruelty is better than the clemency of both worlds: how excellent is the Lord of created beings and how excellent (His) help!
لطفهای مضمر اندر قهر او ** جان سپردن جان فزاید بهر او
In His cruelty there are secret kindnesses: to surrender the soul for His sake increases (the life of) the soul.