بارها میشد به سوی کوه فرد ** شاه با صد لابه او را دفع کرد
Many a time he would have gone alone to the mountains (in order to seclude himself), (but) the Sultan prevented (dissuaded) him by (making) a hundred humble entreaties.
هر دم ار صد جرم را شافع شدی ** چشم سلطان را ازو شرم آمدی 3375
If at every moment he had interceded for a hundred sins, the Sultan's eye would have been abashed before him.
رفت او پیش عماد الملک راد ** سر برهنه کرد و بر خاک اوفتاد
He (the Amír) went to the noble ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk: he bared his head and fell on the ground,
که حرم با هر چه دارم گو بگیر ** تا بگیرد حاصلم را هر مغیر
Saying, “Let him (the king) take my harem together with all that I possess! Let any raider seize my (entire) revenue!
این یکی اسپست جانم رهن اوست ** گر برد مردم یقین ای خیردوست
(But) there is this one horse—my soul is devoted to it: if he take it, I will surely die, O lover of good.
گر برد این اسپ را از دست من ** من یقین دانم نخواهم زیستن
If he take this horse out of my hands, I know for certain that I shall not live (long).
چون خدا پیوستگیی داده است ** بر سرم مال ای مسیحا زود دست 3380
Since God has bestowed (on thee) a (spiritual) connexion (with Himself), stroke my head at once with thy hand, O Messiah!
از زن و زر و عقارم صبر هست ** این تکلف نیست نی تزویریست
I can bear the loss of my women and gold and estates: this is not pretence nor is it an imposture.
اندرین گر مینداری باورم ** امتحان کن امتحان گفت و قدم
If thou dost not believe me in this (matter), try me, try me in word and deed!”
آن عمادالملک گریان چشممال ** پیش سلطان در دوید آشفتهحال
Weeping and wiping his eyes, the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk ran, with agitated mien, into the presence of the Sultan.
لب ببست و پیش سلطان ایستاد ** راز گویان با خدا رب العباد
He closed his lips and stood before the Sultan, communing with God the Lord of (all) His slaves.
ایستاده راز سلطان میشنید ** واندرون اندیشهاش این میتنید 3385
He stood and listened to the Sultan's intimate talk, while inwardly his thought was weaving this (prayer)—
کای خداگر آن جوان کژ رفت راه ** که نشاید ساختن جز تو پناه
“O God, if that young man (the Amír) has gone the wrong way, for ’tis not fitting to make any one except Thee a refuge,
تو از آن خود بکن از وی مگیر ** گرچه او خواهد خلاص از هر اسیر
(Yet) do Thou act in Thine own (generous) fashion and be not offended with him although he beseech any (poor) prisoner (like me) to deliver him,
زانک محتاجند این خلقان همه ** از گدایی گیر تا سلطان همه
Because all these creatures (of Thine) are in need (of Thee): take (it that) all (are alike in this respect) from a beggar to the Sultan (himself).”
با حضور آفتاب با کمال ** رهنمایی جستن از شمع و ذبال
To seek guidance from candle and wick when the perfect Sun is present,
با حضور آفتاب خوشمساغ ** روشنایی جستن از شمع و چراغ 3390
To seek light from candle and lamp when the smoothly-rolling Sun is present,
بیگمان ترک ادب باشد ز ما ** کفر نعمت باشد و فعل هوا
Doubtless ’tis irreverence on our part, ’tis ingratitude and an act of self-will,
لیک اغلب هوشها در افتکار ** همچو خفاشند ظلمت دوستدار
But most minds in (their) thinking are lovers of darkness, like the bat.
در شب ار خفاش کرمی میخورد ** کرم را خورشید جان میپرورد
If the bat eats a worm during the night, (yet it is) the Sun (that) fosters the life of the worm.
در شب ار خفاش از کرمیست مست ** کرم از خورشید جنبنده شدست
If the bat is intoxicated with (the pleasure of eating) a worm during the night, (yet it is) by the Sun (that) the worm has been caused to move.
آفتابی که ضیا زو میزهد ** دشمن خود را نواله میدهد 3395
The Sun whence radiance gushes forth is giving food to his enemy.
لیک شهبازی که او خفاش نیست ** چشم بازش راستبین و روشنیست
But (in the case of) the royal falcon which is not a bat and whose falcon-eye is seeing truly and is clear,
گر به شب جوید چو خفاش او نمو ** در ادب خورشید مالد گوش او
If it, like the bat, seek increase (of sustenance) during the night, the Sun will rub its ear (chastise it) in correction,
گویدش گیرم که آن خفاش لد ** علتی دارد ترا باری چه شد
And will say to it, “I grant that the perverse bat has an infirmity, (but) anyhow what is the matter with you?