که کدامین خاک همسایه‌ی زرست ** یا کدامین خاک صفر و ابترست
(So that I can smell) which soil is a neighbour of gold, or which soil is empty and poor.”
گفت یک نک خاصیت در پنجه‌ام ** که کمندی افکنم طول علم
Another said, “Look here, my specialty lies in my fist: I can throw a lasso to the height of a mountain,
هم‌چو احمد که کمند انداخت جانش ** تا کمندش برد سوی آسمانش
Like Ahmad (Mohammed), whose spirit threw a lasso so (high) that his lasso bore him to Heaven,
گفت حقش ای کمندانداز بیت ** آن ز من دان ما رمیت اذ رمیت 2835
And God said to him, ‘O thrower of the lasso (of thy aspiration) at the (celestial) House, deem that (act of throwing) to be from Me: thou didst not throw when thou threwest.’”
پس بپرسیدند زان شه کای سند ** مر ترا خاصیت اندر چه بود
Then they (the thieves) asked the King, saying, “O man of authority, in what may thy special talent consist?”
گفت در ریشم بود خاصیتم ** که رهانم مجرمان را از نقم
He replied, “My specialty lies in my beard: I can save criminals from punishment.
مجرمان را چون به جلادان دهند ** چون بجنبد ریش من زیشان رهند
When criminals are handed over to the executioners, as soon as my beard moves they are saved.
چون بجنبانم به رحمت ریش را ** طی کنند آن قتل و آن تشویش را
When I move my beard in mercy, they (the executioners) put an end to the killing and (all) the trouble.”
قوم گفتندش که قطب ما توی ** که خلاص روز محنتمان شوی 2840
The company said to him, “Thou art our qutb (supreme chief), for thou wilt be the (means of our) deliverance on the day of tribulation.”
بعد از آن جمله به هم بیرون شدند ** سوی قصرآن شه میمون شدند
Afterwards they all set out together and went towards the palace of the fortunate king.
چون سگی بانگی بزد از سوی راست ** گفت می‌گوید که سلطان با شماست
When a dog barked on the right, (one of them) said, “It says ‘The Sultan is with you.’”
خاک بو کرد آن دگر از ربوه‌ای ** گفت این هست از وثاق بیوه‌ای
Another smelt the ground from (the top of) a hill and said, “This belongs to the house of a widow.”
پس کمند انداخت استاد کمند ** تا شدند آن سوی دیوار بلند
Then the skilful master of the lasso threw his lasso, so that (by means of it) they got over the lofty wall.
جای دیگر خاک را چون بوی کرد ** گفت خاک مخزن شاهیست فرد 2845
When he (the thief who had previously smelt from the hill) smelt the earth in this other place, he said, “’Tis the earth (site) of the treasury of a peerless king.”
نقب‌زن زد نقب در مخزن رسید ** هر یکی از مخزن اسبابی کشید
The tunneller made a tunnel and reached the treasury: every one carried off some goods from the treasury.
بس زر و زربفت و گوهرهای زفت ** قوم بردند و نهان کردند تفت
The band took away much gold and gold-embroidered cloth and big pearls and quickly concealed them.
شه معین دید منزل‌گاهشان ** حلیه و نام و پناه و راهشان
The King saw distinctly their lodging-place and (noticed) their personal appearance and names and (where they took) refuge and (what) way (they went).
خویش را دزدید ازیشان بازگشت ** روز در دیوان بگفت آن سرگذشت
He stole away from them and returned (to the palace), and (next) day related his adventure (to the ministers) in council.
پس روان گشتند سرهنگان مست ** تا که دزدان را گرفتند و ببست 2850
Thereupon furious officers rushed away to arrest and pinion the thieves.
دست‌بسته سوی دیوان آمدند ** وز نهیب جان خود لرزان شدند
They (the thieves) came handcuffed into the council-chamber, and they were trembling in fear for their lives.
چونک استادند پیش تخت شاه ** یار شبشان بود آن شاه چو ماه
When they stood before the King's throne, that moon-like King was their (last) night's companion.
آنک چشمش شب بهرکه انداختی ** روز دیدی بی شکش بشناختی
He (the thief) who could without hesitation recognise by day any one on whom he had cast his eye by night
شاه را بر تخت دید و گفت این ** بود با ما دوش شب‌گرد و قرین
Saw the King on the throne and said, “This man was going about with us last night and was our comrade.
آنک چندین خاصیت در ریش اوست ** این گرفت ما هم از تفتیش اوست 2855
He who has such a great talent in his beard—our arrest is the result of his enquiry.”
عارف شه بود چشمش لاجرم ** بر گشاد از معرفت لب با حشم
His (the thief's) eye was a knower of the King: consequently he opened his lips (to speak) of (mystic) knowledge to his followers.