پس حلیمه گفت ای جانم فدا ** مر ترا ای شیخ خوب خوش‌ندا
Then Halíma said, “Oh, my soul be a ransom for thee, O goodly and fair-spoken Shaykh!
هین مرا بنمای آن شاه نظر ** کش بود از حال طفل من خبر
Come, show me that queen of clairvoyance who hath knowledge of what has happened to my child.”
برد او را پیش عزی کین صنم ** هست در اخبار غیبی مغتنم
He brought her to ‘Uzzá, saying, “This idol is greatly prized for information concerning the Unseen.
ما هزاران گم شده زو یافتیم ** چون به خدمت سوی او بشتافتیم
Through her we have found thousands that were lost, when we hastened towards her in devotion.”
پیر کرد او را سجود و گفت زود ** ای خداوند عرب ای بحر جود950
The old man prostrated himself before her (‘Uzzá) and said at once, “O Sovereign of the Arabs, O sea of munificence!”
گفت ای عزی تو بس اکرامها ** کرده‌ای تا رسته‌ایم از دامها
(Then) he said, “O ‘Uzzá, thou hast done many favours (to us), so that we have been delivered from snares.
بر عرب حقست از اکرام تو ** فرض گشته تا عرب شد رام تو
On account of thy favour the duty (of worshipping thee) has become obligatory to the Arabs, so that the Arabs have submitted to thee.
این حلیمه‌ی سعدی از اومید تو ** آمد اندر ظل شاخ بید تو
In hope of thee this Halíma of (the tribe) Sa‘d has come into the shadow of thy willow-bough,
که ازو فرزند طفلی گم شدست ** نام آن کودک محمد آمدست
For an infant child of hers is lost: the name of that child is Mohammed.”
چون محمد گفت آن جمله بتان ** سرنگون گشت و ساجد آن زمان955
When he said “Mohammed,” all those idols immediately fell headlong and prostrate,
که برو ای پیر این چه جست و جوست ** آن محمد را که عزل ما ازوست
Saying, “Begone, O old man! What is this search after that Mohammed by whom we are deposed?
ما نگون و سنگسار آییم ازو ** ما کساد و بی‌عیار آییم ازو
By him we are overthrown and reduced to a collection of (broken) stones; by him we are made unsaleable and valueless.
آن خیالاتی که دیدندی ز ما ** وقت فترت گاه گاه اهل هوا
Those phantoms which the followers of vain opinion used to see from us at times during the Fatra
گم شود چون بارگاه او رسید ** آب آمد مر تیمم را درید
Will disappear now that his royal court has arrived: the water is come and has torn up (annulled) the ablution with sand.
دور شو ای پیر فتنه کم فروز ** هین ز رشک احمدی ما را مسوز960
Get thee far off, O old man! Do not kindle mischief! Hark, do not burn us with (the fire of) Ahmad's (Mohammed's) jealousy!
دور شو بهر خدا ای پیر تو ** تا نسوزی ز آتش تقدیر تو
Get thee far off, for God's sake, O old man, lest thou (too) be burnt by the fire of Fore-ordainment.
این چه دم اژدها افشردنست ** هیچ دانی چه خبر آوردنست
What squeezing of the dragon's tail is this? Dost thou know at all what the announcement (of Mohammed's advent) is (in its effects)?
زین خبر جوشد دل دریا و کان ** زین خبر لرزان شود هفت آسمان
At this news the heart of sea and mine will surge; at this news the seven heavens will tremble.”
چون شنید از سنگها پیر این سخن ** پس عصا انداخت آن پیر کهن
When the old man heard these words from the stones (idols), the ancient old man let his staff drop (from his hand);
پس ز لرزه و خوف و بیم آن ندا ** پیر دندانها به هم بر می‌زدی965
Then, from tremor and fear and dread caused by that proclamation (of the idols), the old man was striking his teeth together.
آنچنان که اندر زمستان مرد عور ** او همی لرزید و می‌گفت ای ثبور
Even as a naked man in winter, he was shuddering and saying, “O destruction!”
چون در آن حالت بدید او پیر را ** زان عجب گم کرد زن تدبیر را
When she (Halíma) saw the old man in such a state (of terror), in consequence of that marvel the woman lost (the power of) deliberation.
گفت پیر اگر چه من در محنتم ** حیرت اندر حیرت اندر حیرتم
She said, “O old man, though I am in affliction (on account of the loss of Mohammed), I am in manifold bewilderment (not knowing whether I should grieve or rejoice).
ساعتی بادم خطیبی می‌کند ** ساعتی سنگم ادیبی می‌کند
At one moment the wind is making a speech to me, at another moment the stones are schooling me.
باد با حرفم سخنها می‌دهد ** سنگ و کوهم فهم اشیا می‌دهد970
The wind addresses me with articulate words, the stones and mountains give me intelligence of (the real nature of) things.