بود امیری را یکی اسپی گزین ** در گله‌ی سلطان نبودش یک قرین 3345
A certain Amír had a fine horse: there was no equal to it in the Sultan's troop.
او سواره گشت در موکب به گاه ** ناگهان دید اسپ را خوارزمشاه
Early (one morning) he rode out in the royal cavalcade: suddenly the Khwárizmsháh observed the horse.
چشم شه را فر و رنگ او ربود ** تا به رجعت چشم شه با اسپ بود
Its beauty and colour enraptured the king's eye: till his return (home) the king's eye was following the horse.
بر هر آن عضوش که افکندی نظر ** هر یکش خوشتر نمودی زان دگر
On whichever limb he let his gaze fall, each seemed to him more pleasing than the other.
غیر چستی و گشی و روحنت ** حق برو افکنده بد نادر صفت
Besides elegance and beauty and spiritedness, God had bestowed on it (other) exquisite qualities.
پس تجسس کرد عقل پادشاه ** کین چه باشد که زند بر عقل راه 3350
Then the king's mind sought to discover what it could be that waylaid (and overpowered) his reason,
چشم من پرست و سیرست و غنی ** از دو صد خورشید دارد روشنی
Saying, “My eye is full and satisfied and wanting naught: it is illumined by two hundred suns.
ای رخ شاهان بر من بیذقی ** نیم اسپم در رباید بی حقی
Oh, the rook of (other) kings is (but) a pawn in my sight, (and yet) a demi-horse enraptures me without any justification.
جادوی کردست جادو آفرین ** جذبه باشد آن نه خاصیات این
The Creator of witchery has bewitched me: ’tis a (Divine) attraction (exerted upon me), not the peculiar virtues of this (horse).”
فاتحه خواند و بسی لا حول کرد ** فاتحه‌ش در سینه می‌افزود درد
He recited the Fátiha and uttered many a lá hawl, (but) the Fátiha (only) increased the passion in his breast,
زانک او را فاتحه خود می‌کشید ** فاتحه در جر و دفع آمد وحید 3355
Because the Fátiha itself was drawing him on: the Fátiha is unique in drawing on (good) and averting (evil).
گر نماید غیر هم تمویه اوست ** ور رود غیر از نظر تنبیه اوست
If (aught) other (than God) appear (to you), ’tis (the effect of) His illusion; and if (all) other (than God) vanish from sight, ’tis (the effect of) His awakening (you to the reality).
پس یقین گشتش که جذبه زان سریست ** کار حق هر لحظه نادر آوریست
Then it became certain to him (the king) that the attraction was from Yonder: the action of God is producing marvels at every moment.
اسپ سنگین گاو سنگین ز ابتلا ** می‌شود مسجود از مکر خدا
Because of the (Divine) probation a stone horse (or) a stone cow becomes, through God's deception, an object of worship.
پیش کافر نیست بت را ثانیی ** نیست بت را فر و نه روحانیی
In the eyes of the infidel (idolater) the idol has no second (is without parallel), (though) the idol has neither glory nor spirituality.
چست آن جاذب نهان اندر نهان ** در جهان تابیده از دیگر جهان 3360
What is the attracting power, hidden in the hidden most, that shines forth in this world from (its source in) the other world?
عقل محجوبست و جان هم زین کمین ** من نمی‌بینم تو می‌توانی ببین
The intellect is barred, and the spirit also, from (access to) this ambush; I cannot see it: see it (if) you can!
چونک خوارمشه ز سیران باز گشت ** با خواص ملک خود هم‌راز گشت
When the Khwárizmsháh returned from his ride, he conferred with the nobles of his kingdom.
پس به سرهنگان بفرمود آن زمان ** تا بیارند اسپ را زان خاندان
Then he immediately ordered the officers to fetch the horse from that (Amír's) household.
هم‌چو آتش در رسیدند آن گروه ** هم‌چو پشمی گشت امیر هم‌چو کوه
(Quick) as fire, the party (of officers) arrived (there): the Amír who was like a mountain (in pride and stubbornness) became (soft and weak) as a piece of wool
جانش از درد و غبین تا لب رسید ** جز عمادالملک زنهاری ندید 3365
He almost expired from the anguish and defraudment: he saw no (means of) protection except the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk;
که عمادالملک بد پای علم ** بهر هر مظلوم و هر مقتول غم
For the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk was the foot of the banner to which every victim of injustice and every one stricken by distress would flock for refuge.
محترم‌تر خود نبد زو سروری ** پیش سلطان بود چون پیغامبری
In sooth there was no chief more revered than he: in the eyes of the Sultan he was like a prophet.
بی‌طمع بود او اصیل و پارسا ** رایض و شب‌خیز و حاتم در سخا
He was unambitious, strong-minded, devout, ascetic, one who kept vigils and was (like) Hátim in generosity;
بس همایون‌رای و با تدبیر و راد ** آزموده رای او در هر مراد
Very felicitous in judgement, endowed with foresight, and sage: his judgement had been proved in everything that he sought to attain.