جان به حق پیوست چون بی‌هوش شد ** موج رحمت آن زمان در جوش شد
His soul became united with God: at the moment when he lost consciousness the waves of Mercy began to surge.
چون که جانش وا رهید از ننگ تن ** رفت شادان پیش اصل خویشتن
When his soul was freed from the disgrace of the body, it went rejoicing towards its Origin.
جان چو باز و تن مرورا کنده‌ای ** پای بسته پر شکسته بنده‌ای 2280
The soul is like a falcon, and the body is its fetter: (’tis) a foot-bound broken-winged creature;
چونک هوشش رفت و پایش بر گشاد ** می‌پرد آن باز سوی کیقباد
(But) when its self-consciousness is gone and its foot untied, that falcon flies towards the King.
چونک دریاهای رحمت جوش کرد ** سنگها هم آب حیوان نوش کرد
When the seas of Mercy begin to surge, even stones drink the Water of Life.
ذره‌ی لاغر شگرف و زفت شد ** فرش خاکی اطلس و زربفت شد
The frail mote becomes stout and strong; the carpet of earth becomes (like) satin and cloth of gold.
مرده‌ی صدساله بیرون شد ز گور ** دیو ملعون شد به خوبی رشک حور
He that has been dead a hundred years comes forth from the grave; the accursed devil becomes an object of envy to the houris on account of his beauty.
این همه روی زمین سرسبز شد ** چوب خشک اشکوفه کرد و نغز شد 2285
The whole face of this earth becomes verdant; the dry wood buds and becomes flourishing.
گرگ با بره حریف می شده ** ناامیدان خوش‌رگ و خوش پی شده
The wolf becomes the cup-companion of the lamb; the despairing become courageous and valiant.
یافته شدن گوهر و حلالی خواستن حاجبکان و کنیزکان شاه‌زاده از نصوح
The finding of the jewel, and how the ladies-in-waiting and handmaids of the princess begged Nasúh to exonerate them.
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن 2290
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح 2295
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر 2300
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
من همی دانم و آن ستار من ** جرمها و زشتی کردار من
I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.
اول ابلیسی مرا استاد بود ** بعد از آن ابلیس پیشم باد بود 2305
At first an Iblís was my teacher; afterwards Iblís was (mere) wind in comparison with me.
حق بدید آن جمله را نادیده کرد ** تا نگردم در فضیحت روی‌زرد
God saw all that (iniquity), (but) made as though He saw it not, lest I should be openly dishonoured by its exposure.
باز رحمت پوستین دوزیم کرد ** توبه‌ی شیرین چو جان روزیم کرد
Moreover, (the Divine) Mercy exercised the furrier's craft on me and bestowed on me a repentance sweet as life.
هر چه کردم جمله ناکرده گرفت ** طاعت ناکرده آورده گرفت
Whatever (ill deeds) I had done, it took them as not having been done; and my undone (acts of) obedience it took as having been performed.
هم‌چو سرو و سوسنم آزاد کرد ** هم‌چو بخت و دولتم دلشاد کرد
It made me free (pure and noble) as the cypress and the lily; it made me glad of heart as fortune and felicity.
نام من در نامه‌ی پاکان نوشت ** دوزخی بودم ببخشیدم بهشت 2310
It inscribed my name in the register of the righteous: I was one doomed to Hell; it gave me Paradise.
آه کردم چون رسن شد آه من ** گشت آویزان رسن در چاه من
(When) I cried ‘Alas,’ my ‘Alas’ became a rope, and the rope was let down into my well.
آن رسن بگرفتم و بیرون شدم ** شاد و زفت و فربه و گلگون شدم
I clutched that rope and climbed out: I became glad and strong and stout and rosy.
در بن چاهی همی‌بودم زبون ** در همه عالم نمی‌گنجم کنون
(Formerly) I was lying in misery at the bottom of a well: now I am not contained in the whole world.
آفرینها بر تو بادا ای خدا ** ناگهان کردی مرا از غم جدا
Praises be unto Thee, O God! Thou didst suddenly put me afar from sorrow.
گر سر هر موی من یابد زبان ** شکرهای تو نیاید در بیان 2315
If the tip of every hair of me should gain a tongue (power to speak), (yet) the thanks due to Thee are inexpressible.
می‌زنم نعره درین روضه و عیون ** خلق را یا لیت قومی یعلمون
Amidst these gardens and fountains I am crying to the people, ‘Oh, would that my folk did but know!’”
باز خواندن شه‌زاده نصوح را از بهر دلاکی بعد از استحکام توبه و قبول توبه و بهانه کردن او و دفع گفتن
How the princess again invited Nasúh to shampoo her, after his repentance had taken firm hold and was accepted (by God), and how he made an excuse and refused to comply.
بعد از آن آمد کسی کز مرحمت ** دختر سلطان ما می‌خواندت
Afterwards some one came (to Nasúh), saying, “The daughter of our sovereign graciously invites thee.
دختر شاهت همی‌خواند بیا ** تا سرش شویی کنون ای پارسا
The King's daughter invites thee: come and wash her head now, O devout one.
جز تو دلاکی نمی‌خواهد دلش ** که بمالد یا بشوید با گلش
Her heart desires no shampooer except thee to massage her or wash her with clay.”
گفت رو رو دست من بی‌کار شد ** وین نصوح تو کنون بیمار شد 2320
He answered, “Begone, begone! My hand is not in practice, and thy (friend) Nasúh is now fallen sick.
رو کسی دیگر بجو اشتاب و تفت ** که مرا والله دست از کار رفت
Go, look for some one else hastily and speedily, for by God my hand has gone out of business.”
با دل خود گفت کز حد رفت جرم ** از دل من کی رود آن ترس و گرم
(Then) he said to himself, “My sin passed beyond (all) bounds: how should that terror and anguish (ever) go from my mind?
من بمردم یک ره و باز آمدم ** من چشیدم تلخی مرگ و عدم
I died (to self) once (and for all), and (then) I came back (to spiritual life): I tasted the bitterness of death and non-existence.
توبه‌ای کردم حقیقت با خدا ** نشکنم تا جان شدن از تن جدا
I have turned to God with real repentance: I will not break (that vow) till my soul shall be parted from my body.
بعد آن محنت کرا بار دگر ** پا رود سوی خطر الا که خر 2325
After such a tribulation, whose foot should move towards danger a second time, unless it be (the foot of) an ass?”
حکایت در بیان آنک کسی توبه کند و پشیمان شود و باز آن پشیمانیها را فراموش کند و آزموده را باز آزماید در خسارت ابد افتد چون توبه‌ی او را ثباتی و قوتی و حلاوتی و قبولی مدد نرسد چون درخت بی‌بیخ هر روز زردتر و خشک‌تر نعوذ بالله
Story demonstrating that (when) a person repents and feels remorse and then forgets his feelings of remorse and tries again what he has tried (before), he falls into everlasting perdition. Unless his repentance be reinforced by a (great) firmness and strength and by a (great) sweetness and acceptance (experienced inwardly), it is like a rootless tree, more faded and withered every day. We take refuge with God (from that).
گازری بود و مر او را یک خری ** پشت ریش اشکم تهی و لاغری
(Once) there was a washerman, who had an ass with a sore on its back and empty-bellied and lean.
در میان سنگ لاخ بی‌گیاه ** روز تا شب بی‌نوا و بی‌پناه
(He kept it) in ground covered with stones, where no grass grew: from morning till night it went without food and shelter.