من هم از شرت اگر پس می‌خزم ** در مکافات تو دیگی می‌پزم
I too, though I am creeping (shrinking) back from thy malice, am concocting a plan to requite thee.
دل ازین بر کن که بفریبی مرا ** یا بجز فی پس‌روی گردد ترا
Put away from thine heart the thought that thou wilt deceive me or that thou wilt get any follower but thy shadow.
تو بدان غره مشو کش ساختی ** در دل خلقان هراس انداختی
Be not deluded by that which thou hast contrived: thou hast (only) cast terror into the hearts of the people.
صد چنین آری و هم رسوا شوی ** خوار گردی ضحکه‌ی غوغا شوی
Thou mayst bring (forward) a hundred such (devices), and thou wilt be exposed in the same way; thou wilt become despicable and the laughing-stock of the mob.
همچو تو سالوس بسیاران بدند ** عاقبت در مصر ما رسوا شدند 1075
Many have been impostors like thee, (but) in our Egypt they have been brought to disgrace in the end.”
جواب موسی فرعون را در تهدیدی کی می‌کردش
The answer of Moses to Pharaoh concerning the threats which he made against him.
گفت با امر حقم اشراک نیست ** گر بریزد خونم امرش باک نیست
He (Moses) said, “I admit nothing as co-partner with the command of God: if His command shall shed my blood, there is no fear (on my part).
راضیم من شاکرم من ای حریف ** این طرف رسوا و پیش حق شریف
I am content, I am thankful, O adversary: here (I am) disgraced, but with God (I am) honoured.
پیش خلقان خوار و زار و ریش‌خند ** پیش حق محبوب و مطلوب و پسند
In the sight of the people (I am) contemptible and wretched and a laughingstock: in God's sight (I am) loved and sought and approved.
از سخن می‌گویم این ورنه خدا ** از سیه‌رویان کند فردا ترا
I say this (merely as a matter) of words; otherwise (in fact), to-morrow (on the Day of Judgement) God will make thee one of the black-faced.
عزت آن اوست و آن بندگانش ** ز آدم و ابلیس بر می‌خوان نشانش 1080
Glory belongs to Him and to His servants (alone): recite (from the Qur’án) the sign thereof (made manifest) through Adam and Iblís.
شرح حق پایان ندارد همچو حق ** هین دهان بربند و برگردان ورق
The explanation of (the attributes of) God, like God (Himself), hath no limit. Take heed, close thy mouth and turn over a (new) leaf.”
پاسخ فرعون موسی را علیه السلام
The reply of Pharaoh to Moses, on whom be peace.
گفت فرعونش ورق درحکم ماست ** دفتر و دیوان حکم این دم مراست
Pharaoh said to him, “The leaf is under my authority; the book and register of authority is mine at this moment.
مر مرا بخریده‌اند اهل جهان ** از همه عاقلتری تو ای فلان
The people of the world have chosen me: art thou wiser than all, O fellow?
موسیا خود را خریدی هین برو ** خویشتن کم بین به خود غره مشو
O Moses, thou hast vaunted thyself. Hark, begone! Have less regard for thyself, be not self-deluded.
جمع آرم ساحران دهر را ** تا که جهل تو نمایم شهر را 1085
I will assemble the magicians of the world, that I may exhibit thy foolishness to the city.
این نخواهد شد بروزی و دو روز ** مهلتم ده تا چهل روز تموز
(But) this will not be done in a day or two: give me time (and wait) till the forty days (which end in the month) of Tamúz.”
جواب موسی فرعون را
The answer of Moses, on whom be peace, to Pharaoh.
گفت موسی این مرا دستور نیست ** بنده‌ام امهال تو مامور نیست
Moses said, “This is not permitted to me: I am the slave (of God): the giving of time to thee is not commanded.
گر تو چیری و مرا خود یار نیست ** بنده فرمانم بدانم کار نیست
If thou art powerful and I in sooth have no ally, (yet) I am subject to His command: I have nothing to do with that.
می‌زنم با تو بجد تا زنده‌ام ** من چه کاره‌ی نصرتم من بنده‌ام
I will combat thee with all my might so long as I live; what have I to do with helping (God)? I am a slave.
می‌زنم تا در رسد حکم خدا ** او کند هر خصم از خصمی جدا 1090
I will fight till the decision of God comes to pass: He (alone) separates every adversary from an adversary.”
جواب فرعون موسی را و وحی آمدن موسی را علیه‌السلام
The reply of Pharaoh to Moses, and the coming of a Divine revelation to Moses, on whom be peace.
گفت نه نه مهلتم باید نهاد ** عشوه‌ها کم ده تو کم پیمای باد
He (Pharaoh) said, “Nay, nay, thou must appoint a certain respite: do not give cajoleries, do not talk vain things.”
حق تعالی وحی کردش در زمان ** مهلتش ده متسع مهراس از آن
At once the high God made a revelation to him, saying, “Give him an ample respite: be not afraid of that.
این چهل روزش بده مهلت بطوع ** تا سگالد مکرها او نوع نوع
Willingly give him these forty days, that he may bethink him of divers plots.
تا بکوشد او که نی من خفته‌ام ** تیز رو گو پیش ره بگرفته‌ام
Let him endeavour, for I am not asleep; bid him advance quickly, (for) I have barred the way in front (of him).
حیله‌هاشان را همه برهم زنم ** و آنچ افزایند من بر کم زنم 1095
I will confound all their devices, and I will reduce to little that which they increase.
آب را آرند من آتش کنم ** نوش و خوش گیرند و من ناخوش کنم
Let them fetch water, and I will make (it) fire; let them get honey and sweets and I will make (it) bitter.
مهر پیوندند و من ویران کنم ** آنک اندر وهم نارند آن کنم
Let them join in a bond of love, and I will destroy it; I will do that which they conceive not.
تو مترس و مهلتش ده دم‌دراز ** گو سپه گرد آر و صد حیلت بساز
Have thou no fear, and give him a lengthy respite; bid him bring together his host and prepare a hundred devices.”
مهلت دادن موسی علیه‌السلام فرعون را تا ساحران را جمع کند از مداین
How Moses, on whom be peace, gave Pharaoh a respite, that he might assemble the magicians from the cities.
گفت امر آمد برو مهلت ترا ** من بجای خود شدم رستی ز ما
He (Moses) said, “The (Divine) command hath come. Go, the respite is (granted) to thee. I depart to my dwelling-place: thou art delivered from me.”
او همی‌شد و اژدها اندر عقب ** چون سگ صیاد دانا و محب 1100
He was going (on his way), and at his heels (went) the dragon wise and loving, like the hunter's dog.
چون سگ صیاد جنبان کرده دم ** سنگ را می‌کرد ریگ او زیر سم
Like the hunter's dog, wagging its tail: it made the stones (crumble as) sand beneath its hoof.
سنگ و آهن را بدم در می‌کشید ** خرد می‌خایید آهن را پدید
With its breath it drew in stone and iron (to its jaws) and visibly chewed the iron into small fragments.
در هوا می‌کرد خود بالای برج ** که هزیمت می‌شد از وی روم و گرج
In the air it was making itself (rise) above the zodiac, so that Greeks and Georgians would flee from it in panic.
کفک می‌انداخت چون اشتر ز کام ** قطره‌ای بر هر که زد می‌شد جذام
From its palate it cast out foam, like a camel: whomsoever a drop hit, he was smitten with tubercular leprosy.
ژغژغ دندان او دل می‌شکست ** جان شیران سیه می‌شد ز دست 1105
The gnashing of its teeth would break the heart; the souls of black lions would be distraught (with terror).
چون به قوم خود رسید آن مجتبی ** شدق او بگرفت باز او شد عصا
When that chosen one (Moses) reached his kinsfolk, he took hold of the corner of its mouth, and it became again a staff.
تکیه بر وی کرد و می‌گفت ای عجب ** پیش ما خورشید و پیش خصم شب
He leaned upon it, saying, “O wonder! to me (’tis clear as) the sun, to my enemy (’tis dark as) night.
ای عجب چون می‌نبیند این سپاه ** عالمی پر آفتاب چاشتگاه
O wonder! How doth this host not see a whole world filled with the morning sun?
چشم باز و گوش باز و این ذکا ** خیره‌ام در چشم‌بندی خدا
Eyes open, and ears open, and this sun! I am amazed at God's eye-bandaging.
من ازیشان خیره ایشان هم ز من ** از بهاری خار ایشان من سمن 1110
I am amazed at them, and they too at me: (we are) from one springtime, (but) they are thorns and I am jasmine.
پیششان بردم بسی جام رحیق ** سنگ شد آبش به پیش این فریق
I bore to them many a cup of pure wine: its juice turned to stone before this company.
دسته گل بستم و بردم به پیش ** هر گلی چون خار گشت و نوش نیش
I twined a handful of roses and carried it to them: every rose became as a thorn, and the honey turned to poison.
آن نصیب جان بی‌خویشان بود ** چونک با خویش‌اند پیدا کی شود
That (pure wine) is the portion allotted to the selfless: since they are with themselves (not freed from self), how should it be shown (to them)?
خفته‌ی بیدار باید پیش ما ** تا به بیداری ببیند خوابها
With us, one must needs be a waking sleeper, that in the state of wakefulness he may dream dreams.”
دشمن این خواب خوش شد فکر خلق ** تا نخسپد فکرتش بستست حلق 1115
Thought of created things is an enemy to this sweet (waking) sleep: until his (any one's) thought is asleep, his throat is shut.
حیرتی باید که روبد فکر را ** خورده حیرت فکر را و ذکر را
A (mystical) bewilderment is needed to sweep (such) thought away: bewilderment devours (all) thought and recollection.
هر که کاملتر بود او در هنر ** او بمعنی پس بصورت پیشتر
The more perfect he is in (worldly) science, the more backward he is in reality and the more forward in appearance.
راجعون گفت و رجوع این سان بود ** که گله وا گردد و خانه رود
He (God) hath said, “(Verily, to Him we are) returning”; and the return is in the same wise as a herd turns back and goes home.
چونک واگردید گله از ورود ** پس فتد آن بز که پیش آهنگ بود
When the herd has turned back from (after) going down to water, the goat that was the leader (now) falls behind (becomes the hindmost),
پیش افتد آن بز لنگ پسین ** اضحک الرجعی وجوه العابسین 1120
And the lame hindmost goat is now in front: the return caused the faces to laugh of them that were frowning (before).