And said, “Good tidings, O king! Thy prayers are granted. If to-morrow a stranger come for thee, he is from me.
چون که آید او حکیمی حاذق است ** صادقش دان که امین و صادق است
When he comes, he is a skilled physician: deem him veracious, for he is trusty and true.
در علاجش سحر مطلق را ببین ** در مزاجش قدرت حق را ببین65
In his remedy behold absolute magic, in his temperament behold the might of God!”
چون رسید آن وعده‌‌گاه و روز شد ** آفتاب از شرق، اختر سوز شد
When the promised hour arrived and day broke and the sun, (rising) from the east, began to burn the stars,
بود اندر منظره شه منتظر ** تا ببیند آن چه بنمودند سر
The king was in the belvedere, expecting to see that which had been shown mysteriously.
دید شخصی فاضلی پر مایه‌‌ای ** آفتابی در میان سایه‌‌ای
He saw a person excellent and worshipful, a sun amidst a shadow,
می‌‌رسید از دور مانند هلال ** نیست بود و هست بر شکل خیال
Coming from afar, like the new moon (in slenderness and radiance): he was nonexistent, though existent in the form of phantasy.
نیست وش باشد خیال اندر روان ** تو جهانی بر خیالی بین روان70
In the spirit phantasy is as naught, (yet) behold a world (turning) on a phantasy!
بر خیالی صلح‌‌شان و جنگشان ** وز خیالی فخرشان و ننگشان
Their peace and their war (turn) on a phantasy, and their pride and their shame spring from a phantasy;
آن خیالاتی که دام اولیاست ** عکس مه رویان بستان خداست
(But) those phantasies which ensnare the saints are the reflexion of the fair ones of the garden of God.
آن خیالی که شه اندر خواب دید ** در رخ مهمان همی‌‌آمد پدید
In the countenance of the stranger-guest was appearing that phantasy which the king beheld in his dream.
شه به جای حاجبان واپیش رفت ** پیش آن مهمان غیب خویش رفت
The king himself, instead of the chamberlains, went forward to meet his guest from the Invisible.
هر دو بحری آشنا آموخته ** هر دو جان بی‌‌دوختن بر دوخته75
Both were seamen who had learned to swim, the souls of both were knit together without sewing.
گفت معشوقم تو بوده ستی نه آن ** لیک کار از کار خیزد در جهان
The king said, “Thou wert my Beloved (in reality), not she; but in this world deed issues from deed.
ای مرا تو مصطفی من چون عمر ** از برای خدمتت بندم کمر
O thou who art to me (as) Mustafá (Mohammed), while I am like unto ‘Umar—I will gird my loins to do thee service.”
از خداوند ولی التوفیق در خواستن توفیق رعایت ادب در همه حالها و بیان کردن وخامت ضررهای بی‌‌ادبی
Beseeching the Lord, who is our Helper, to help us to observe self-control in all circumstances, and explaining the harmful and pernicious consequences of indiscipline.
از خدا جوییم توفیق ادب ** بی‌‌ادب محروم گشت از لطف رب
Let us implore God to help us to self-control: one who lacks self-control is deprived of the grace of the Lord.
بی‌‌ادب تنها نه خود را داشت بد ** بلکه آتش در همه آفاق زد
The undisciplined man does not maltreat himself alone, but he sets the whole world on fire.
مایده از آسمان در می‌‌رسید ** بی‌‌شری و بیع و بی‌‌گفت و شنید80
A table (of food) was coming down from heaven without buying and selling and without speaking and hearing,
در میان قوم موسی چند کس ** بی‌‌ادب گفتند کو سیر و عدس
(When) some of the people of Moses cried disrespectfully, “Where is garlic and lentils?”
منقطع شد خوان و نان از آسمان ** ماند رنج زرع و بیل و داسمان
(Straightway) the dishes (of food) and the bread from heaven were cut off: there remained for us the toil of sowing and (labouring with) mattock and scythe.
باز عیسی چون شفاعت کرد، حق ** خوان فرستاد و غنیمت بر طبق
Again, when Jesus made intercession, God sent food and bounty (from heaven) on trays,
باز گستاخان ادب بگذاشتند ** چون گدایان زله‌‌ها برداشتند
But once more the insolent fellows omitted to show respect and, like beggars, snatched away the viands.