بنده‌‌ای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار2165
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید2170
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.
گفت حق فرمود ما را بنده‌‌ای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخنده‌‌ای است
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست2175
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.
پس عمر گفتش مترس از من مرم ** کت بشارتها ز حق آورده‌‌ام
Then ‘Umar said to him, “Fear not, do not flee from me, for I have brought thee glad tidings from God.
چند یزدان مدحت خوی تو کرد ** تا عمر را عاشق روی تو کرد2180
How often has God praised thy disposition, so that He has made ‘Umar in love with thy face!
پیش من بنشین و مهجوری مساز ** تا به گوشت گویم از اقبال راز
Sit down beside me and do not make separation (between us), that I may say into thine ear the secret (message) from (the Divine) favour.
حق سلامت می‌‌کند می‌‌پرسدت ** چونی از رنج و غمان بی‌‌حدت
God sends thee greeting and asks thee how thou farest in thy distress and boundless sorrows.
نک قراضه‌‌ی چند ابریشم بها ** خرج کن این را و باز اینجا بیا
Lo, here are some pieces of gold to pay for silk. Spend them and come back to this place.”
پیر لرزان گشت چون این را شنید ** دست می‌‌خایید و بر خود می‌‌تپید
The old man trembled when he heard this, biting his hand and quivering all over,
بانگ می‌‌زد کای خدای بی‌‌نظیر ** بس که از شرم آب شد بی‌‌چاره پیر2185
Crying, “O God who hast no like!” inasmuch as the poor old man was melted with shame.
چون بسی بگریست و از حد رفت درد ** چنگ را زد بر زمین و خرد کرد
After he had wept long and his grief had gone beyond (all) bounds, he dashed his harp on the earth and broke it to bits.
گفت ای بوده حجابم از اله ** ای مرا تو راه زن از شاه راه
He said, “O thou (harp) that hast been to me a curtain (debarring me) from God, O thou (that hast been) to me a brigand (cutting me off) from the King's highway,