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.
گفت و هو معکم این شاه بود ** فعل ما می‌دید و سرمان می‌شنود
He said, “This King was (the subject of) and He is with you: he was seeing our actions and hearing our secret.
چشم من ره برد شب شه را شناخت ** جمله شب با روی ماهش عشق باخت
My eye made its way (to him), recognised the King by night, and all night long played the game of love with his moon-like face.
امت خود را بخواهم من ازو ** کو نگرداند ز عارف هیچ رو
I will beg (forgiveness for) my people from him, for he never averts his face from the knower.
چشم عارف دان امان هر دو کون ** که بدو یابید هر بهرام عون 2860
Deem the eye of the knower to be the salvation of the two worlds, whereby every Bahrám (sovereign) obtained help.
زان محمد شافع هر داغ بود ** که ز جز شه چشم او مازاغ بود
Mohammed was the intercessor for every brand (of disgrace) because his eye did not swerve for aught except God.
در شب دنیا که محجوبست شید ** ناظر حق بود و زو بودش امید
In the night of this world, where the sun (of Reality) is veiled, he was beholding God, and (all) his hope was in Him.
از الم نشرح دو چشمش سرمه یافت ** دید آنچ جبرئیل آن بر نتافت
His eyes received collyrium from Did not We expand (thy breast)? He saw that which Gabriel could not endure.
مر یتیمی را که سرمه حق کشد ** گردد او در یتیم با رشد
The orphan to whom (to whose eyes) God applies collyrium becomes the orphan (unique) pearl endowed with (Divine) guidance.
نور او بر ذره‌ها غالب شود ** آن‌چنان مطلوب را طالب شود 2865
Its light overpowers (that of all other) pearls, (because) it desires such an (exalted) object of desire.
در نظر بودش مقامات العباد ** لاجرم نامش خدا شاهد نهاد
(All) the (spiritual) stations (attainments) of God's servants were visible to him (the Prophet): consequently God named him ‘The Witness.’