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.
هم به بذل جان سخی و هم به مال ** طالب خورشید غیب او چون هلال 3370
(He was) generous both in self-sacrifice and in sacrificing wealth: (he was) always seeking the Sun of the invisible world, like the new-moon.
در امیری او غریب و محتبس ** در صفات فقر وخلت ملتبس
In his (worldly) princedom he felt strange and embarrassed: he was clad (inwardly) in the attributes of (spiritual) poverty and love (of God).
بوده هر محتاج را هم‌چون پدر ** پیش سلطان شافع و دفع ضرر
He was like a father to every one in need: before the Sultan he was an intercessor and the means of averting harm.
مر بدان را ستر چون حلم خدا ** خلق او بر عکس خلقان و جدا
To the wicked he was a covering (to palliate their offences), like the clemency of God: his nature was opposite to (that of other) created beings and apart (from theirs).
بارها می‌شد به سوی کوه فرد ** شاه با صد لابه او را دفع کرد
Many a time he would have gone alone to the mountains (in order to seclude himself), (but) the Sultan prevented (dissuaded) him by (making) a hundred humble entreaties.
هر دم ار صد جرم را شافع شدی ** چشم سلطان را ازو شرم آمدی 3375
If at every moment he had interceded for a hundred sins, the Sultan's eye would have been abashed before him.
رفت او پیش عماد الملک راد ** سر برهنه کرد و بر خاک اوفتاد
He (the Amír) went to the noble ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk: he bared his head and fell on the ground,
که حرم با هر چه دارم گو بگیر ** تا بگیرد حاصلم را هر مغیر
Saying, “Let him (the king) take my harem together with all that I possess! Let any raider seize my (entire) revenue!
این یکی اسپست جانم رهن اوست ** گر برد مردم یقین ای خیردوست
(But) there is this one horse—my soul is devoted to it: if he take it, I will surely die, O lover of good.
گر برد این اسپ را از دست من ** من یقین دانم نخواهم زیستن
If he take this horse out of my hands, I know for certain that I shall not live (long).
چون خدا پیوستگیی داده است ** بر سرم مال ای مسیحا زود دست 3380
Since God has bestowed (on thee) a (spiritual) connexion (with Himself), stroke my head at once with thy hand, O Messiah!
از زن و زر و عقارم صبر هست ** این تکلف نیست نی تزویریست
I can bear the loss of my women and gold and estates: this is not pretence nor is it an imposture.
اندرین گر می‌نداری باورم ** امتحان کن امتحان گفت و قدم
If thou dost not believe me in this (matter), try me, try me in word and deed!”
آن عمادالملک گریان چشم‌مال ** پیش سلطان در دوید آشفته‌حال
Weeping and wiping his eyes, the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk ran, with agitated mien, into the presence of the Sultan.
لب ببست و پیش سلطان ایستاد ** راز گویان با خدا رب العباد
He closed his lips and stood before the Sultan, communing with God the Lord of (all) His slaves.
ایستاده راز سلطان می‌شنید ** واندرون اندیشه‌اش این می‌تنید 3385
He stood and listened to the Sultan's intimate talk, while inwardly his thought was weaving this (prayer)—
کای خداگر آن جوان کژ رفت راه ** که نشاید ساختن جز تو پناه
“O God, if that young man (the Amír) has gone the wrong way, for ’tis not fitting to make any one except Thee a refuge,
تو از آن خود بکن از وی مگیر ** گرچه او خواهد خلاص از هر اسیر
(Yet) do Thou act in Thine own (generous) fashion and be not offended with him although he beseech any (poor) prisoner (like me) to deliver him,