چون ملخها بی‌عدد بر گرد کشت ** قاصد اهلاک اهل شهر گشت
(With an army) like innumerable locusts (gathered) round the crops, he resolved to destroy the inhabitants of the city.
هر نواحی منجنیقی از نبرد ** هم‌چو کوه قاف او بر کار کرد 3840
On every side he brought into hostile action a mangonel (ballista) like Mount Qáf.
زخم تیر و سنگهای منجنیق ** تیغها در گرد چون برق از بریق
Wounds (were inflicted) by arrows and by stones from the mangonel; swords (flashed) amidst the dust, like lightning from a lightning-cloud.
هفته‌ای کرد این چنین خون‌ریز گرم ** برج سنگین سست شد چون موم نرم
During a (whole) week he wrought such carnage in hot fight: stone towers became unsteady as soft wax.
شاه موصل دید پیگار مهول ** پس فرستاد از درون پیشش رسول
The King of Mawsil saw the terrible combat: then (at last) he sent an envoy from within (the city) to him (the captain),
که چه می‌خواهی ز خون مؤمنان ** کشته می‌گردند زین حرب گران
To say, “What do you wish (to obtain) by shedding the blood of true believers? They are being killed in this grievous war.
گر مرادت ملک شهر موصلست ** بی‌چنین خون‌ریز اینت حاصلست 3845
If your object is to gain possession of the city of Mawsil, look now, it is achieved without (any more) bloodshed like this.
من روم بیرون شهر اینک در آ ** تا نگیرد خون مظلومان ترا
I will go forth from the city: here it is for you, enter in, lest the blood of the oppressed lay hold of you (and demand vengeance);
ور مرادت مال و زر و گوهرست ** این ز ملک شهر خود آسان‌ترست
And if your object is riches and gold and jewels, this is even more easy than to take possession of the city.”
ایثار کردن صاحب موصل آن کنیزک را بدین خلیفه تا خون‌ریز مسلمانان بیشتر نشود
How the lord of Mawsil surrendered the girl to the Caliph in order that there might be no more shedding of Moslem blood.
چون رسول آمد به پیش پهلوان ** داد کاغذ اندرو نقش و نشان
When the envoy came to the captain, he (the captain) gave him the paper on which the features (of the girl) were depicted,
بنگر اندر کاغذ این را طالبم ** هین بده ورنه کنون من غالبم
(Saying), “Look on the paper: this (is what) I require. Hark, give (her up), or else (I will take her by force, for) I am the conqueror.”
چون رسول آمد بگفت آن شاه نر ** صورتی کم گیر زود این را ببر 3850
On the return of the envoy, that manly King said, “Take no account of a (mere) form, lead her away at once.
من نیم در عهد ایمان بت‌پرست ** بت بر آن بت‌پرست اولیترست
I am not an idolater in the epoch of the true Faith: ’tis more fit that the idol should be in the hands of the idolater.”
چونک آوردش رسول آن پهلوان ** گشت عاشق بر جمالش آن زمان
When the envoy brought her (to him), the captain straightway fell in love with her beauty.
عشق بحری آسمان بر وی کفی ** چون زلیخا در هوای یوسفی
Love is an (infinite) ocean, on which the heavens are (but) a flake of foam: (they are distraught) like Zalíkhá in desire for a Joseph.
دور گردونها ز موج عشق دان ** گر نبودی عشق بفسردی جهان
Know that the wheeling heavens are turned by waves of Love: were it not for Love, the world would be frozen (inanimate).
کی جمادی محو گشتی در نبات ** کی فدای روح گشتی نامیات 3855
How would an inorganic thing disappear (by change) into a plant? How would vegetive things sacrifice themselves to become (endowed with) spirit?
روح کی گشتی فدای آن دمی ** کز نسیمش حامله شد مریمی
How would the spirit sacrifice itself for the sake of that Breath by the waft whereof a Mary was made pregnant?
هر یکی بر جا ترنجیدی چو یخ ** کی بدی پران و جویان چون ملخ
Each one (of them) would be (as) stiff and immovable as ice: how should they be flying and seeking like locusts?
ذره ذره عاشقان آن کمال ** می‌شتابد در علو هم‌چون نهال
Every mote is in love with that Perfection and hastening upward like a sapling.
سبح لله هست اشتابشان ** تنقیه‌ی تن می‌کنند از بهر جان
Their haste is (saying implicitly) “Glory to God!” They are purifying the body for the sake of the spirit.
پهلوان چه را چو ره پنداشته ** شوره‌اش خوش آمده حب کاشته 3860
The captain deemed (what was really) a pit to be like a (safe) road: to him the sterile soil appeared goodly, (so) he sowed seed (in it).
چون خیالی دید آن خفته به خواب ** جفت شد با آن و از وی رفت آب
Dormiens cum (aliquis) simulacrum (amatae) in somnio videret, cum eo coivit et aqua (seminis) effusa est. [When the sleeper saw an image (of her) in a dream, he coupled with it and (seminal) fluid flowed from him.]
چون برفت آن خواب و شد بیدار زود ** دید که آن لعبت به بیداری نبود
Postquam somnium abscessit et ipse extemplo experrectus est, sensit illam pupam sibi jam vigilanti coram non adesse. [When the dream departed and he woke up at once, he saw that that doll was not (present) in wakefulness.]
گفت بر هیچ آب خود بردم دریغ ** عشوه‌ی آن عشوه‌ده خوردم دریغ
Dixit: “Eheu, aquam meam nihilo ingessi; eheu, dolosi illius (simulacri) dolum expertus sum.” [He said: “Alas! I have borne my fluid (sperm) for nothing. Alas! I have swallowed the coquetry of that artful schemer (image).]