جمله با وی بانگها برداشتند ** کان حریصان که سببها کاشتند
They all lifted up their voices (to dispute) with him, saying, “Those covetous ones who sowed (the seed of) means,
صد هزار اندر هزار از مرد و زن ** پس چرا محروم ماندند از زمن
Myriads on myriads of men and women—why, then, did they remain deprived of fortune?
صد هزاران قرن ز آغاز جهان ** همچو اژدرها گشاده صد دهان950
From the beginning of the world myriads of generations have opened a hundred mouths, like dragons:
مکرها کردند آن دانا گروه ** که ز بن بر کنده شد ز آن مکر کوه
Those clever people devised plots (of such power) that the mountain thereby was torn up from its foundation.
کرد وصف مکرهاشان ذو الجلال ** لتزول منه اقلال الجبال
The Glorious (God) described their plots (when He said): (though their guile be such) that the tops of the mountains might be moved thereby.
جز که آن قسمت که رفت اندر ازل ** روی ننمود از شکار و از عمل
(But) except the portion which came to pass (was predestined) in eternity, nothing showed its face (accrued to them) from their hunting and doing.
جمله افتادند از تدبیر و کار ** ماند کار و حکم‌‌های کردگار
They all fell from (failed in) plan and act: the acts and decrees of the Maker remained.
کسب جز نامی مدان ای نامدار ** جهد جز وهمی مپندار ای عیار955
O illustrious one, do not regard work as aught but a name! O cunning one, think not that exertion is aught but a vain fancy!”
نگریستن عزراییل بر مردی و گریختن آن مرد در سرای سلیمان و تقریر ترجیح توکل بر جهد و قلت فایده‌‌ی جهد
How ‘Azrá‘íl (Azrael) looked at a certain man, and how that man fled to the palace of Solomon; and setting forth the superiority of trust in God to exertion and the uselessness of the latter.
زاد مردی چاشتگاهی در رسید ** در سرا عدل سلیمان در دوید
One forenoon a freeborn (noble) man arrived and ran into Solomon's hall of justice,
رویش از غم زرد و هر دو لب کبود ** پس سلیمان گفت ای خواجه چه بود
His countenance pale with anguish and both lips blue. Then Solomon said, “Good sir, what is the matter?”
گفت عزراییل در من این چنین ** یک نظر انداخت پر از خشم و کین
He replied, “Azrael cast on me such a look, so full of wrath and hate.”
گفت هین اکنون چه می‌‌خواهی بخواه ** گفت فرما باد را ای جان پناه
“Come,” said the king, “what (boon) do you desire now? Ask (it)!” “O protector of my life,” said he, “command the wind,
تا مرا ز ینجا به هندستان برد ** بو که بنده کان طرف شد جان برد960
To bear me from here to India. Maybe, when thy slave is come thither he will save his life.”
نک ز درویشی گریزانند خلق ** لقمه‌‌ی حرص و امل ز آنند خلق
Lo, the people are fleeing from poverty: hence are they a mouthful for (a prey to) covetousness and expectation.
ترس درویشی مثال آن هراس ** حرص و کوشش را تو هندستان شناس
The fear of poverty is like that (man's) terror: know thou that covetousness and striving are (like) India (in this tale).
باد را فرمود تا او را شتاب ** برد سوی قعر هندستان بر آب
He (Solomon) commanded the wind to bear him quickly over the water to the uttermost part of India.
روز دیگر وقت دیوان و لقا ** پس سلیمان گفت عزراییل را
Next day, at the time of conference and meeting, Solomon said to Azrael:
کان مسلمان را بخشم از چه چنان ** بنگریدی تا شد آواره ز خان965
“Didst thou look with anger on that Moslem in order that he might wander (as an exile) far from his home?”
گفت من از خشم کی کردم نظر ** از تعجب دیدمش در رهگذر
Azrael said, “When did I look (on him) angrily? I saw him as I passed by, (and looked at him) in astonishment,
که مرا فرمود حق که امروز هان ** جان او را تو به هندستان ستان
For God had commanded me, saying, ‘Hark, to-day do thou take his spirit in India.’
از عجب گفتم گر او را صد پر است ** او به هندستان شدن دور اندر است
From wonder I said (to myself), ‘(Even) if he has a hundred wings, ’tis a far journey for him to be in India (to-day).’”
تو همه کار جهان را همچنین ** کن قیاس و چشم بگشا و ببین
In like manner judge of all the affairs of this world and open your eye and see!
از که بگریزیم از خود ای محال ** از که برباییم از حق ای وبال970
From whom shall we flee? From ourselves? Oh, absurdity! From whom shall we take (ourselves) away? From God? Oh, crime!
باز ترجیح‌‌نهادن شیر جهد را بر توکل و فواید جهد را بیان کردن
How the lion again declared exertion to be superior to trust in God and expounded the advantages of exertion.
شیر گفت آری و لیکن هم ببین ** جهدهای انبیا و مومنین
“Yes,” said the lion; “but at the same time consider the exertions of the prophets and the true believers.
حق تعالی جهدشان را راست کرد ** آن چه دیدند از جفا و گرم و سرد
God, exalted is He, prospered their exertion and what they suffered of oppression and heat and cold.