جانب کعبه نرفتی پای پیل ** با همه لت نه کثیر و نه قلیل

In spite of all blows the Elephant's feet would not move, either much or little, towards the Ka‘ba.

گفتیی خود خشک شد پاهای او ** یا بمرد آن جان صول‌افزای او

You would have said that its legs were paralysed or that its impetuous spirit was dead.

چونک کردندی سرش سوی یمن ** پیل نر صد اسپه گشتی گام‌زن

(But) whenever they turned its head towards Yemen, the fierce Elephant would begin to stride (forward) with the speed of a hundred horses.

حس پیل از زخم غیب آگاه بود ** چون بود حس ولی با ورود

(Since) the Elephant's perception was aware of the blow (coming) from the Unseen, how (much more) must the perception of the saint (endowed) with (the Divine) afflatus be (aware)!

نه که یعقوب نبی آن پاک‌خو ** بهر یوسف با همه اخوان او 2750

Is it not (the case) that the prophet Jacob, that man of holy nature, (said) for Joseph's sake to all his (Joseph's) brethren—

از پدر چون خواستندش دادران ** تا برندش سوی صحرا یک زمان

When the brothers begged their father to give him to them, that they might take him to the country for a while,

جمله گفتندش میندیش از ضرر ** یک دو روزش مهلتی ده ای پدر

(And) they all said to him, “Do not be afraid of harm (befalling him): give him one or two days' time, O father;

که چرا ما را نمی داری امین ** یوسف خود را به سیران و ظعین

For why wilt not thou entrust thy Joseph to us in going about and travelling (for pleasure),

تا به هم در مرجها بازی کنیم ** ما درین دعوت امین و محسنیم

That we may play together in the meadows? In (making) this request we are trustworthy and beneficent”—

گفت این دانم که نقلش از برم ** می‌فروزد در دلم درد و سقم 2755

Did not he (Jacob) say (to them), “I know this, that (the thought of) his being removed from me is kindling grief and sickness in my heart;