چون که جانش وا رهید از ننگ تن ** رفت شادان پیش اصل خویشتن
When his soul was freed from the disgrace of the body, it went rejoicing towards its Origin.
جان چو باز و تن مرورا کنده‌ای ** پای بسته پر شکسته بنده‌ای 2280
The soul is like a falcon, and the body is its fetter: (’tis) a foot-bound broken-winged creature;
چونک هوشش رفت و پایش بر گشاد ** می‌پرد آن باز سوی کیقباد
(But) when its self-consciousness is gone and its foot untied, that falcon flies towards the King.
چونک دریاهای رحمت جوش کرد ** سنگها هم آب حیوان نوش کرد
When the seas of Mercy begin to surge, even stones drink the Water of Life.
ذره‌ی لاغر شگرف و زفت شد ** فرش خاکی اطلس و زربفت شد
The frail mote becomes stout and strong; the carpet of earth becomes (like) satin and cloth of gold.
مرده‌ی صدساله بیرون شد ز گور ** دیو ملعون شد به خوبی رشک حور
He that has been dead a hundred years comes forth from the grave; the accursed devil becomes an object of envy to the houris on account of his beauty.
این همه روی زمین سرسبز شد ** چوب خشک اشکوفه کرد و نغز شد 2285
The whole face of this earth becomes verdant; the dry wood buds and becomes flourishing.
گرگ با بره حریف می شده ** ناامیدان خوش‌رگ و خوش پی شده
The wolf becomes the cup-companion of the lamb; the despairing become courageous and valiant.
یافته شدن گوهر و حلالی خواستن حاجبکان و کنیزکان شاه‌زاده از نصوح
The finding of the jewel, and how the ladies-in-waiting and handmaids of the princess begged Nasúh to exonerate them.
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن 2290
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح 2295
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر 2300
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?