-
چون همی حراقه جنبانید او ** میکشیدند اهل هنگامه گلو
- When he (the snake-catcher) began to move the cloth (which covered the dragon), the people in the crowd strained their throats (necks),
-
و اژدها کز زمهریر افسرده بود ** زیر صد گونه پلاس و پرده بود
- And (saw that) the dragon, which had been frozen by intense cold, was underneath a hundred kinds of coarse woollen cloths and coverlets.
-
بسته بودش با رسنهای غلیظ ** احتیاطی کرده بودش آن حفیظ 1040
- He had bound it with thick ropes: that careful keeper had taken great precaution for it.
-
در درنگ انتظار و اتفاق ** تافت بر آن مار خورشید عراق
- During the delay (interval) of expectation and coming together, the sun of ‘Iráq shone upon the snake.
-
آفتاب گرمسیرش گرم کرد ** رفت از اعضای او اخلاط سرد
- The sun of the hot country warmed it; the cold humours went out of its limbs.
-
مرده بود و زنده گشت او از شگفت ** اژدها بر خویش جنبیدن گرفت
- It had been dead, and it revived: from astonishment (at feeling the sun's heat) the dragon began to uncoil itself.
-
خلق را از جنبش آن مرده مار ** گشتشان آن یک تحیر صد هزار
- By the stirring of that dead serpent the people's amazement was multiplied a hundred thousand fold.
-
با تحیر نعرهها انگیختند ** جملگان از جنبشش بگریختند 1045
- With amazement they started shrieking and fled en masse from its motion.
-
میسکست او بند و زان بانگ بلند ** هر طرف میرفت چاقاچاق بند
- It set about bursting the bonds, and at that loud outcry (of the people) the bonds on every side went crack, crack.
-
بندها بسکست و بیرون شد ز زیر ** اژدهایی زشت غران همچو شیر
- It burst the bonds and glided out from beneath—a hideous dragon roaring like a lion.
-
در هزیمت بس خلایق کشته شد ** از فتاده و کشتگان صد پشته شد
- Many people were killed in the rout: a hundred heaps were made of the fallen slain.
-
مارگیر از ترس بر جا خشک گشت ** که چه آوردم من از کهسار و دشت
- The snake-catcher became paralysed with fear on the spot, crying, “What have I brought from the mountains and the desert?”
-
گرگ را بیدار کرد آن کور میش ** رفت نادان سوی عزرائیل خویش 1050
- The blind sheep awakened the wolf: unwittingly it went towards its ‘Azrá’íl (Angel of death).
-
اژدها یک لقمه کرد آن گیج را ** سهل باشد خونخوری حجاج را
- The dragon made one mouthful of that dolt: blood-drinking (bloodshed) is easy for Hajjáj.
-
خویش را بر استنی پیچید و بست ** استخوان خورده را در هم شکست
- It wound and fastened itself on a pillar and crunched the bones of the devoured man.
-
نفست اژدرهاست او کی مرده است ** از غم و بی آلتی افسرده است
- The dragon is thy sensual soul: how is it dead? It is (only) frozen by grief and lack of means.
-
گر بیابد آلت فرعون او ** که بامر او همیرفت آب جو
- If it obtain the means of Pharaoh, by whose command the water of the river (Nile) would flow,
-
آنگه او بنیاد فرعونی کند ** راه صد موسی و صد هارون زند 1055
- Then it will begin to act like Pharaoh and will waylay a hundred (such as) Moses and Aaron.
-
کرمکست آن اژدها از دست فقر ** پشهای گردد ز جاه و مال صقر
- That dragon, under stress of poverty, is a little worm, (but) a gnat is made a falcon by power and riches.
-
اژدها را دار در برف فراق ** هین مکش او را به خورشید عراق
- Keep the dragon in the snow of separation (from its desires); beware, do not carry it into the sun of ‘Iráq.
-
تا فسرده میبود آن اژدهات ** لقمهی اویی چو او یابد نجات
- So long as that dragon of thine remains frozen, (well and good); thou art a mouthful for it, when it gains release.
-
مات کن او را و آمن شو ز مات ** رحم کم کن نیست او ز اهل صلات
- Mortify it and become safe from (spiritual) death; have no mercy: it is not one of them that deserve favours;
-
کان تف خورشید شهوت بر زند ** آن خفاش مردریگت پر زند 1060
- For (when) the heat of the sun of lust strikes upon it, that vile bat of thine flaps its wings.
-
میکشانش در جهاد و در قتال ** مردوار الله یجزیک الوصال
- Lead it manfully to the (spiritual) warfare and battle: God will reward thee with access (to Him).
-
چونک آن مرد اژدها را آورید ** در هوای گرم خوش شد آن مرید
- When that man brought the dragon into the hot air, the insolent brute became well (again),