همچو اصحاب عزا آوازشان ** بد گرفته از فغان و سازشان
Their voices were choked with lamentation, like mourners, and their guise (dishevelled).
ریش و مو بر کنده رو بدریدگان ** خاک بر سر کرده خون‌پر دیدگان
They had plucked out their beards and hair; their faces were torn; they had cast earth on their heads, and their eyes were filled with blood.
گفت خیرست این چه آشوبست و حال ** بد نشانی می‌دهد منحوس سال
He (‘Imrán) said, “Is it well (with you)? What is this perturbation and emotion? Does the unlucky year give an evil sign?”
عذر آوردند و گفتند ای امیر ** کرد ما را دست تقدیرش اسیر
They offered excuses and said, “O Amír, the hand of His predestination hath made us captive.
این همه کردیم و دولت تیره شد ** دشمن شه هست گشت و چیره شد910
We have done all this, and (now) Fortune is darkened: the King's enemy has come into being and has prevailed.
شب ستاره‌ی آن پسر آمد عیان ** کوری ما بر جبین آسمان
During the night the star of that boy became clearly visible, to our confusion, on the front of heaven.
زد ستاره‌ی آن پیمبر بر سما ** ما ستاره‌بار گشتیم از بکا
The star of that prophet shot up in the sky: we, from weeping, began to shed stars (glistening tears).”
با دل خوش شاد عمران وز نفاق ** دست بر سر می‌بزد کاه الفراق
‘Imrán, with a right glad heart and from hypocrisy, was beating his hands on his head and crying, “Alas, all is lost.”
کرد عمران خویش پر خشم و ترش ** رفت چون دیوانگان بی عقل و هش
‘Imrán feigned to be wrathful and grim, he went (amongst them) senseless and witless, like madmen.
خویشتن را اعجمی کرد و براند ** گفته‌های بس خشن بر جمع خواند915
He feigned to be ignorant and pushed forward and addressed to the company (of astrologers) words exceeding rough.
خویشتن را ترش و غمگین ساخت او ** نردهای بازگونه باخت او
He made himself out to be bitterly annoyed and grieved, he played (with) reversed dice.
گفتشان شاه مرا بفریفتید ** از خیانت وز طمع نشکیفتید
He said to them, “Ye have deceived my King, ye have not refrained from treachery and covetousness.
سوی میدان شاه را انگیختید ** آب روی شاه ما را ریختید
Ye roused the King (to go) towards the maydán, ye let our King's honour go to waste.
دست بر سینه زدیت اندر ضمان ** شاه را ما فارغ آریم از غمان
Ye put your hands on your breasts in warrant, saying, ‘We will set the King free from cares.’”
شاه هم بشنید و گفت ای خاینان ** من بر آویزم شما را بی امان920
The King too heard (how the astrologers excused themselves) and said, “O traitors, I will hang you up without quarter.
خویش را در مضحکه انداختم ** مالها با دشمنان در باختم
I exposed myself to derision, I squandered riches on my enemies,
تا که امشب جمله اسرائیلیان ** دور ماندند از ملاقات زنان
To the end that to-night all the Israelites might remain far away from meeting with their wives.
مال رفت و آب رو و کار خام ** این بود یاری و افعال کرام
Wealth and honour are gone, and all is done in vain: is this (true) friendship and (are these) the deeds of the noble?
سالها ادرار و خلعت می‌برید ** مملکتها را مسلم می‌خورید
For years ye have been taking stipends and robes of honour and devouring kingdoms as ye pleased.
رایتان این بود و فرهنگ و نجوم ** طبل‌خوارانید و مکارید و شوم925
Was this (the only result of) your judgement and wisdom and astrology? Ye are lickspittles and deceivers and ill-omened.
من شما را بر درم و آتش زنم ** بینی و گوش و لبانتان بر کنم
I will rend you to pieces and set you ablaze, I will tear off your noses and ears and lips.
من شما را هیزم آتش کنم ** عیش رفته بر شما ناخوش کنم
I will make you fuel for the fire, I will make your past pleasure unsweet to you.”
سجده کردند و بگفتند ای خدیو ** گر یکی کرت ز ما چربید دیو
They prostrated themselves and said, “O Khedive, if (this) one time the Devil has prevailed against us,
سالها دفع بلاها کرده‌ایم ** وهم حیران زانچ ماها کرده‌ایم
(Yet) for years we have warded off afflictions: the imagination is dumbfounded by that which we have done.
فوت شد از ما و حملش شد پدید ** نطفه‌اش جست و رحم اندر خزید930
(Now) it (the prevention of this calamity) has eluded us, and his conception has occurred: semen ejus exsiliit et in uterum irrepsit; [(Now) it (the prevention of this calamity) has eluded us, and his conception has occurred: his semen spurted forth and crept into the womb;]