(If) you give a white falcon to a decrepit old woman, she will clip its talons for the sake of (its supposed) welfare.
ناخنی که اصل کارست و شکار ** کور کمپیری ببرد کوروار
The blind old woman will blindly clip the talons which are the source of its usefulness in the chase,
که کجا بودست مادر که ترا ** ناخنان زین سان درازست ای کیا2630
Saying, “Where has thy mother been, that thy talons are so long, O prince?”
ناخن و منقار و پرش را برید ** وقت مهر این می‌کند زال پلید
She clipped its talons and beak and wings: the filthy old hag does this at the time of (at the time when she is moved by) affection.
چونک تتماجش دهد او کم خورد ** خشم گیرد مهرها را بر درد
When she gives it tutmáj, it will not eat; (then) she is enraged and tears up her feelings of affection,
که چنین تتماج پختم بهر تو ** تو تکبر می‌نمایی و عتو
Saying, “I have cooked such (fine) tutmáj for thee, and thou art showing pride and insolence.
تو سزایی در همان رنج و بلا ** نعمت و اقبال کی سازد ترا
Thou deservest to be in that trouble and affliction: how should happiness and prosperity be suitable for thee?”
آن تتماجش دهد کین را بگیر ** گر نمی‌خواهی که نوشی زان فطیر2635
She gives it the tutmáj broth, saying, “Take this, if thou dost not wish to eat of the pastry.”
آب تتماجش نگیرد طبع باز ** زال بترنجد شود خشمش دراز
The falcon's nature does not accept (rejects) tutmáj broth: the old woman frowns, and her anger is prolonged.
از غضب شربای سوزان بر سرش ** زن فرو ریزد شود کل مغفرش
In her rage the woman pours down the burning hot soup on its head: the crown of its head is made bald.
اشک از آن چشمش فرو ریزد ز سوز ** یاد آرد لطف شاه دل‌فروز
On account of the burning pain the tears pour down from its eye: it remembers the kindness of the heart-delighting king.
زان دو چشم نازنین با دلال ** که ز چهره‌ی شاد دارد صد کمال
(Tears pour) from those two charming coquettish eyes, which possess a hundred perfections (derived) from the countenance of the king.
چشم مازاغش شده پر زخم زاغ ** چشم نیک از چشم بد با درد و داغ2640
Its eye that turned not aside (ma zágh) has become full of wounds inflicted by the crow (zágh): the good eye is (smitten) with pain and anguish by the evil eye.
چشم دریا بسطتی کز بسط او ** هر دو عالم می‌نماید تار مو
(It hath) an eye with the (vast) range of the sea, (an eye) from the (immense) range whereof both the worlds appear (no bigger than) a thread of hair.
گر هزاران چرخ در چشمش رود ** هم‌چو چشمه پیش قلزم گم شود
If thousands of spheres should enter into its eye, they would vanish like a fountain before the ocean.
چشم بگذشته ازین محسوسها ** یافته از غیب‌بینی بوسها
The eye that has passed beyond these objects of sense-perception and won kisses from vision of the Unseen—
خود نمی‌یابم یکی گوشی که من ** نکته‌ای گویم از آن چشم حسن
Verily, I do not find a single ear to which I should tell a mystery concerning that beauteous eye.
می‌چکید آن آب محمود جلیل ** می‌ربودی قطره‌اش را جبرئیل2645
(If) the lauded and august water were to trickle (from that eye), Gabriel would (eagerly) carry off its drops,
تا بمالد در پر و منقال خویش ** گر دهد دستوریش آن خوب کیش
That he might rub them on his wings and beak, if that person of goodly practice give him permission.
باز گوید خشم کمپیر ار فروخت ** فر و نور و علم و صبرم را نسوخت
The falcon says, “If the anger of the old crone has blazed forth, (yet) it has not consumed my glory and splendour and self-denial and knowledge.
باز جانم باز صد صورت تند ** زخم بر ناقه نه بر صالح زند
The falcon, (which is) my spirit, will still weave a hundred forms: the blow falls on the she-camel, not on Sálih.
صالح از یک‌دم که آرد با شکوه ** صد چنان ناقه بزاید متن کوه
At a single awful breath that Sálih heaves, the back (womb) of the mountain will bring to birth a hundred such she-camels.”
دل همی گوید خموش و هوش دار ** ورنه درانید غیرت پود و تار2650
(My) heart is saying, “Be silent and observe discretion; otherwise, the (Divine) jealousy will end the warp and woof (of thy existence).”
غیرتش را هست صد حلم نهان ** ورنه سوزیدی به یک دم صد جهان
His jealousy hath a hundred hidden clemencies; else in one moment it would consume a hundred worlds.
نخوت شاهی گرفتش جای پند ** تا دل خود را ز بند پند کند
Kingly pride seized the place of (left no room for) admonition in him (Pharaoh), so that he wrenched his heart away from the bonds of admonition,