زو بر آمد خورده‏ها زشت و نکو ** مار با آن خورده بیرون جست از او

All the things he had eaten, bad or good, came up from him: the snake shot forth from him along with what he had eaten.

چون بدید از خود برون آن مار را ** سجده آورد آن نکو کردار را

When he saw the snake outside of him, he fell on his knees before that beneficent man.

سهم آن مار سیاه زشت زفت ** چون بدید آن دردها از وی برفت‏ 1895

As soon as he saw the horror of that black, ugly, big snake, those griefs departed from him.

گفت خود تو جبرییل رحمتی ** یا خدایی که ولی نعمتی‏

“Truly,” said he, “you are the Gabriel of (Divine) mercy, or you are God, for you are the lord of bounty.

ای مبارک ساعتی که دیدی‏ام ** مرده بودم جان نو بخشیدی‏ام‏

Oh, blest (is) the hour that you saw me: I was dead, you have given me new life.

تو مرا جویان مثال مادران ** من گریزان از تو مانند خران‏

You (were) seeking me like mothers (in search of their children); I (was) fleeing from you like asses.

خر گریزد از خداوند از خری ** صاحبش در پی ز نیکو گوهری‏

The ass flees from his master because of asininity; his owner (runs) after (him) because of good-nature.

نه از پی سود و زیان می‏جویدش ** لیک تا در گرگش ندرد یا ددش‏ 1900

He seeks him, not on account of profit or loss, but in order that a wolf or (other) wild beast may not tear him.

ای خنک آن را که بیند روی تو ** یا در افتد ناگهان در کوی تو

Oh, happy he that espies your face or suddenly lights upon your abode.

ای روان پاک بستوده ترا ** چند گفتم ژاژ و بی‏هوده ترا

O you whom the pure spirit hath praised, how many foolish and idle words have I spoken to you!

ای خداوند و شهنشاه و امیر ** من نگفتم جهل من گفت آن مگیر

O lord and emperor and amír, I spoke not, my folly spoke: do not punish that (offence).

شمه‏ای زین حال اگر دانستمی ** گفتن بی‏هوده کی تانستمی‏

If I had known a tittle of this matter, how could I have spoken foolish words?

بس ثنایت گفتمی ای خوش خصال ** گر مرا یک رمز می‏گفتی ز حال‏ 1905

I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case;

لیک خامش کرده می‏آشوفتی ** خامشانه بر سرم می‏کوفتی‏

But you, keeping silence, showed perturbation and silently continued to beat me on the head.

شد سرم کالیوه عقل از سر بجست ** خاصه این سر را که مغزش کمتر است‏

My head became dizzy, the wits flew out of my head— especially as this head has (but) little brain.

عفو کن ای خوب روی خوب کار ** آن چه گفتم از جنون اندر گذار

Pardon, O man of goodly countenance and goodly behaviour: let pass that which I said in frenzy.”

گفت اگر من گفتمی رمزی از آن ** زهره‏ی تو آب گشتی آن زمان‏

He answered, “If I had uttered a hint of it, your gall would instantly have turned to water.

گر ترا من گفتمی اوصاف مار ** ترس از جانت بر آوردی دمار 1910

Had I told you the qualities of the snake, terror would have made you give up the ghost.”

مصطفی فرمود اگر گویم به راست ** شرح آن دشمن که در جان شماست‏

Mustafá (Mohammed) said, ‘If I should tell aright the description of the enemy which is in your souls,

زهره‏های پر دلان هم بر درد ** نه رود ره نه غم کاری خورد

The gall-bladders even of courageous men would burst: he (such a one) would neither go his way nor care for any work.

نه دلش را تاب ماند در نیاز ** نه تنش را قوت روزه و نماز

Neither would there remain to his heart endurance in supplication, nor to his body strength for fasting and (ritual) prayer.

همچو موشی پیش گربه لا شود ** همچو بره پیش گرگ از جا رود

He would become (good for) nothing as a mouse before a cat; he would be distraught as a lamb before a wolf.

اندر او نه حیله ماند نه روش ** پس کنم ناگفته تان من پرورش‏ 1915

No power to plan or move would remain in him: therefore I tend you without speaking.

همچو بو بکر ربابی تن زنم ** دست چون داود در آهن زنم‏

I am mute, like Bú Bakr-i Rabábí; I handle the iron, like David,

تا محال از دست من حالی شود ** مرغ پر برکنده را بالی شود

So that by my hand the (seemingly) impossible is brought to pass, and wings are restored to the bird whose plumes were torn away.