چون ندید او خیره و نومید شد ** جسم لرزان هم‌چو شاخ بید شد

When she did not see (any one), she became distraught and despairing: her body began to tremble like the willow-bough.

باز آمد سوی آن طفل رشید ** مصطفی را بر مکان خود ندید 930

She came back towards that righteous child: she did not see Mustafá in his (former) place.

حیرت اندر حیرت آمد بر دلش ** گشت بس تاریک از غم منزلش

Bewilderment on bewilderment fell upon her heart: from grief her abode became very dark.

سوی منزلها دوید و بانگ داشت ** که کی بر دردانه‌ام غارت گماشت

She ran to the dwellings (hard by) and raised an outcry, saying, “Who has carried off my single pearl?”

مکیان گفتند ما را علم نیست ** ما ندانستیم که آنجا کودکیست

The Meccans said, “We have no knowledge: we knew not that a child was there.”

ریخت چندان اشک و کرد او بس فغان ** که ازو گریان شدند آن دیگران

She shed so many tears and made (so) much lamentation that those others began to weep because of her (grief).

سینه کوبان آن چنان بگریست خوش ** که اختران گریان شدند از گریه‌اش 935

Beating her breast, she wept so well (mightily) that the stars were made to weep by her weeping.

حکایت آن پیر عرب کی دلالت کرد حلیمه را به استعانت به بتان

Story of the old Arab who directed Halíma to seek help from the idols.

پیرمردی پیشش آمد با عصا ** کای حلیمه چه فتاد آخر ترا

An old man with a staff approached her, saying, “Why, what hath befallen thee, O Halíma,

که چنین آتش ز دل افروختی ** این جگرها را ز ماتم سوختی

That thou didst let such a fire (of grief) blaze (forth) from thy heart and consume these bowels (of the bystanders) with mourning?”

گفت احمد را رضیعم معتمد ** پس بیاوردم که بسپارم به جد

She replied, “I am Ahmad's (Mohammed's) trusted foster-mother, so I brought him (back) to hand him over to his grandsire.