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.
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,
زانک محتاجند این خلقان همه ** از گدایی گیر تا سلطان همه
Because all these creatures (of Thine) are in need (of Thee): take (it that) all (are alike in this respect) from a beggar to the Sultan (himself).”
با حضور آفتاب با کمال ** رهنمایی جستن از شمع و ذبال
To seek guidance from candle and wick when the perfect Sun is present,
با حضور آفتاب خوش‌مساغ ** روشنایی جستن از شمع و چراغ 3390
To seek light from candle and lamp when the smoothly-rolling Sun is present,
بی‌گمان ترک ادب باشد ز ما ** کفر نعمت باشد و فعل هوا
Doubtless ’tis irreverence on our part, ’tis ingratitude and an act of self-will,
لیک اغلب هوش‌ها در افتکار ** هم‌چو خفاشند ظلمت دوستدار
But most minds in (their) thinking are lovers of darkness, like the bat.
در شب ار خفاش کرمی می‌خورد ** کرم را خورشید جان می‌پرورد
If the bat eats a worm during the night, (yet it is) the Sun (that) fosters the life of the worm.
در شب ار خفاش از کرمیست مست ** کرم از خورشید جنبنده شدست
If the bat is intoxicated with (the pleasure of eating) a worm during the night, (yet it is) by the Sun (that) the worm has been caused to move.