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.
گاه طفلم را ربوده غیبیان ** غیبیان سبز پر آسمان
Once (before) they of the Invisible carried off my child—they of the Invisible, the green-winged ones of Heaven.
از کی نالم با کی گویم این گله ** من شدم سودایی اکنون صد دله
Of whom shall I complain? To whom shall I tell this plaint? I am become crazy and in a hundred minds.
غیرتش از شرح غیبم لب ببست ** این قدر گویم که طفلم گم شدست
His (God's) jealousy has closed my lips (so that I am unable) to unfold (the tale of) the mystery: I say (only) this much, that my child is lost.
گر بگویم چیز دیگر من کنون ** خلق بندندم به زنجیر جنون
If I should say anything else now, the people would bind me in chains as though I were mad.”
گفت پیرش کای حلیمه شاد باش ** سجده‌ی شکر آر و رو را کم خراش975
The old man said to her, “O Halíma, rejoice; bow down in thanksgiving and do not rend thy face.
غم مخور یاوه نگردد او ز تو ** بلک عالم یاوه گردد اندرو
Do not grieve: he will not become lost to thee; nay, but the (whole) world will become lost in him.
هر زمان از رشک غیرت پیش و پس ** صد هزاران پاسبانست و حرس
Before and behind (him) there are always hundreds of thousands of keepers and guardians (watching over him) in jealous emulation.
آن ندیدی کان بتان ذو فنون ** چون شدند از نام طفلت سرنگون
Didst not thou see how those idols with all their arts fell headlong at the name of thy child?
این عجب قرنیست بر روی زمین ** پیر گشتم من ندیدم جنس این
This is a marvellous epoch on the face of the earth: I have grown old, and I have not seen aught of this kind.”