بس سپه بنهاده دل بر مرگ خویش ** روشنیها و ظفر آید به پیش
Often, (when) soldiers have made up their minds to die, the splendours (of triumph) and victory appear.
ابرهه با پیل بهر ذل بیت ** آمده تا افکند حی را چو میت 4375
Abraha came with the elephant to dishonour the House (of Allah), that he might throw down the living (and leave them lying) as though dead,
تا حریم کعبه را ویران کند ** جمله را زان جای سرگردان کند
And destroy the holy Ka‘ba and cause all (the inhabitants) to wander forth from that place,
تا همه زوار گرد او تنند ** کعبه‌ی او را همه قبله کنند
In order that all the pilgrims might gather round him and might all turn in worship to his Ka‘ba,
وز عرب کینه کشد اندر گزند ** که چرا در کعبه‌ام آتش زنند
And that he might take vengeance on the Arabs for the injury (inflicted by them), for “why,” said he, “should they set my Ka‘ba on fire?”
عین سعیش عزت کعبه شده ** موجب اعزاز آن بیت آمده
His efforts only turned to glory for the Ka‘ba: they caused the (holy) House to be glorified.
مکیان را عز یکی بد صد شده ** تا قیامت عزشان ممتد شده 4380
(Formerly) the glory of the Meccans had been one: (now) it became a hundred: their glory was now extending to the Resurrection.
او و کعبه‌ی او شده مخسوف‌تر ** از چیست این از عنایات قدر
He (Abraha) and his Ka‘ba were eclipsed more (and more). Whence is this? From the favours of the (Divine) Decree.
از جهاز ابرهه هم‌چون دده ** آن فقیران عرب توانگر شده
Those poor Arabs were enriched by the equipment and baggage of (the host of) Abraha, (who was) like a wild beast.
او گمان برده که لشکر می‌کشید ** بهر اهل بیت او زر می‌کشید
He thought that he was bringing an army (against the Ka‘ba): (in fact) he was bringing gold for the defenders of the House.
اندرین فسخ عزایم وین همم ** در تماشا بود در ره هر قدم
He (the treasure-seeker) was (occupied), every step of the way, in contemplating this (wondrous) annulment of fixed purposes and ambitions.
خانه آمد گنج را او باز یافت ** کارش از لطف خدایی ساز یافت 4385
(When) he came home, he discovered the treasure: by Divine grace his fortune was restored.
مکرر کردن برادران پند دادن بزرگین را و تاب ناآوردن او آن پند را و در رمیدن او ازیشان شیدا و بی‌خود رفتن و خود را در بارگاه پادشاه انداختن بی‌دستوری خواستن لیک از فرط عشق و محبت نه از گستاخی و لاابالی الی آخره
How the (two) brothers repeated their advice to the eldest, and how he was unable to endure it and ran away from them and went off, frenzied and beside himself, and rushed into the King's audience-chamber without asking permission; but (this was) from excess of passionate love, not from disrespect and recklessness, etc.
آن دو گفتندش که اندر جان ما ** هست پاسخ‌ها چو نجم اندر سما
The two (brothers) said to him, “In our souls are answers (to thy arguments), like stars in the sky.
گر نگوییم آن نیاید راست نرد ** ور بگوییم آن دلت آید به درد
Unless we (answer and) speak, the game will not come out right; and if we speak, thy heart will be grieved.
هم‌چو چغزیم اندر آب از گفت الم ** وز خموشی اختناقست و سقم
We are like frogs in the water: ’tis painful to speak, while the result of silence is suffocation and illness.
گر نگوییم آتشی را نور نیست ** ور بگوییم آن سخن دستور نیست
If we speak not, (our) friendship (with thee) has no light (of truth); and if we speak, ’tis without leave (from thee).”
در زمان برجست کای خویشان وداع ** انما الدنیا و ما فیها متاع 4390
Straightway he sprang up, crying, “Farewell, O kinsmen: verily this world and all therein is but a passing enjoyment,”
پس برون جست او چو تیری از کمان ** که مجال گفت کم بود آن زمان
And darted away like an arrow from the bow, so that there was no opportunity (for them) to speak at that time.
اندر آمد مست پیش شاه چین ** زود مستانه ببوسید او زمین
He came intoxicated (with love) into the presence of the King of China and at once kissed the earth frenziedly (at his feet).
شاه را مکشوف یک یک حالشان ** اول و آخر غم و زلزالشان
To the King their (his lovers') feelings, their passion and agitation, were (an) open (book) in every detail from first to last.
میش مشغولست در مرعای خویش ** لیک چوپان واقفست از حال میش
The sheep are busy in their pasture, but the shepherd knows all about the sheep.
کلکم راع بداند از رمه ** کی علف‌خوارست و کی در ملحمه 4395
(Any one of those of whom the Prophet said), “Each of you is a shepherd,” knows which of the flock is feeding and which is (engaged) in combat.
گرچه در صورت از آن صف دور بود ** لیک چون دف در میان سور بود
Although apparently he was far from those ranks, yet he was (in their midst) like the tambourine at a wedding-feast.
واقف از سوز و لهیب آن وفود ** مصلحت آن بد که خشک آورده بود
(He was) well acquainted with the burning and flaming (passion) of those who came to his court, (but) in his wisdom he had ignored them and kept silence.
در میان جانشان بود آن سمی ** لک قاصد کرده خود را اعجمی
That exalted (monarch) was in the midst (depths) of their souls, but he had purposely feigned to be unfamiliar (with them).