پس چه خوانیمت بگو ای جوهری ** گفت طاوس نر چون مشتری

“Say then, what shall we call thee, O creature of (pure) substance?” He replied, “ A peacock (brilliant) as Jupiter.”

پس بگفتندش که طاوسان جان ** جلوه‌ها دارند اندر گلستان

Then they said to him, “The spiritual peacocks have displays (with the Beloved) in the Rose-garden:

تو چنان جلوه کنی گفتا که نی ** بادیه نارفته چون کوبم منی 775

Dost thou display thyself like that?” “No,” said he: “not having gone into the desert, how should I tread (the valley of) Mina?”

بانگ طاووسان کنی گفتا که لا ** پس نه‌ای طاووس خواجه بوالعلا

“Dost thou utter the cry of peacocks?” “Nay,” said he. “Then, Master Bu’l-‘Alam thou art not a peacock.

خلعت طاووس آید ز آسمان ** کی رسی از رنگ و دعویها بدان

The peacock’s garment of honour comes from Heaven: how wilt thou attain thereto by means of colours and pretences?”

تشبیه فرعون و دعوی الوهیت او بدان شغال کی دعوی طاوسی می‌کرد

Comparison of Pharaoh and his pretence of divinity to the jackal which pretended to be a peacock.

همچو فرعونی مرصع کرده ریش ** برتر از عیسی پریده از خریش

Thou art even as Pharaoh, who bejeweled his beard and in his asinine folly soared higher than Jesus.

او هم از نسل شغال ماده زاد ** در خم مالی و جاهی در فتاد

He too was born of the generation of the she-jackal and fell into a vat of riches and power.

هر که دید آن جاه و مالش سجده کرد ** سجده‌ی افسوسیان را او بخورد 780

Every one who beheld his power and riches bowed down to him in worship: he swallowed the worship of the idle mockers (worldlings).

گشت مستک آن گدای ژنده‌دلق ** از سجود و از تحیرهای خلق

That beggar in tattered cloak became miserably drunken with the people’s worship and feelings of amazement.

مال مار آمد که در وی زهرهاست ** و آن قبول و سجده‌ی خلق اژدهاست

Riches are a snake, for therein are poisons; and popular favour and worship is a dragon.