ایستاده پیش سلطان ظاهرش ** در ریاض غیب جان طایرش 3435
His exterior (person) stood before the Sultan, (but) his soaring spirit was in the meadows of the Unseen.
چون ملایک او به اقلیم الست ** هر دمی می‌شد به شرب تازه مست
Like the angels, he was momently being intoxicated with fresh draughts (of spiritual wine) in the realm of Alast;
اندرون سور و برون چون پر غمی ** در تن هم‌چون لحد خوش عالمی
Inwardly (merry as) a wedding-feast, but outwardly like a man filled with sorrow; a delectable world (concealed) in a tomb-like body.
او درین حیرت بد و در انتظار ** تا چه پیدا آید از غیب و سرار
He was in this (state of) bewilderment and waiting to see what would appear from the (world of) things occult and mysterious,
اسپ را اندر کشیدند آن زمان ** پیش خوارمشاه سرهنگان کشان
(When) at that time the officers brought the horse along into the presence of the Khwárizmsháh.
الحق اندر زیر این چرخ کبود ** آن‌چنان کره به قد و تگ نبود 3440
Verily beneath this azure sky there was no (other) colt like that in (tallness and comeliness of) figure and in fleetness.
می‌ربودی رنگ او هر دیده را ** مرحب آن از برق و مه زاییده را
Its colour (splendid appearance) dazzled every eye: (all would exclaim), “Hail to the (steed) born of the lightning and the moon!”
هم‌چو مه هم‌چون عطارد تیزرو ** گوییی صرصر علف بودش نه جو
It moved as swiftly as the moon and Mercury: you might say that its fodder was the sarsar wind, not barley.
ماه عرصه‌ی آسمان را در شبی ** می‌برد اندر مسیر و مذهبی
The moon traverses the expanse of heaven in one night during a single journey and course.
چون به یک شب مه برید ابراج را ** از چه منکر می‌شوی معراج را
Since the moon traversed the signs of the zodiac in one night, wherefore wilt thou disbelieve the Ascension (of the Prophet)?
صد چو ماهست آن عجب در یتیم ** که به یک ایماء او شد مه دو نیم 3445
That wondrous orphan Pearl is as a hundred moons, for at a nod from him the moon became (split in) two halves.
آن عجب کو در شکاف مه نمود ** هم به قدر ضعف حس خلق بود
(Even) the marvel which he displayed in splitting the moon was only according to the measure of the weakness of the perception possessed by the (common) people.
کار و بار انبیا و مرسلون ** هست از افلاک و اخترها برون
The work and business of the prophets and (Divine) messengers is beyond the skies and the stars.
تو برون رو هم ز افلاک و دوار ** وانگهان نظاره کن آن کار و بار
Do thou also go beyond (transcend) the skies and the revolving (orb), and then contemplate that work and business.
در میان بیضه‌ای چون فرخ‌ها ** نشنوی تسبیح مرغان هوا
(Whilst) thou art inside the egg, like chicks, thou canst not hear the glorification of God by the birds of the (supermundane) air.
معجزات این‌جا نخواهد شرح گشت ** ز اسپ و خوارمشاه گو و سرگذشت 3450
The miracles (of the Prophet) will not be set forth here: tell of the horse and the Khwárizmsháh and what happened.
آفتاب لطف حق بر هر چه تافت ** از سگ و از اسپ فر کهف یافت
Whatsoever the sun of God's grace shines upon, whether it be dog or horse, gains (is endowed with) the glory of the Cave;
تاب لطفش را تو یکسان هم مدان ** سنگ را و لعل را داد او نشان
Yet deem not the radiance of His grace to be uniform: it has given a sign (distinctive character) to the pebble and the ruby.
لعل را زان هست گنج مقتبس ** سنگ را گرمی و تابانی و بس
From that (radiance) the ruby has a borrowed treasure, (while) the pebble has only heat and brightness.
آنک بر دیوار افتد آفتاب ** آن‌چنان نبود کز آب و اضطراب
(The radiance of) the sun falling on a wall is not the same as (when it is reflected) from water and quivering movement.
چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد 3455
After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk,
کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین
Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”
پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو
Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.
در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک
That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet
هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”