He replied, “The robbers came unexpectedly, and hastily carried off the stock from before me.”
قوم گفتندش که ای چو تل ریگ ** پس چه می‌کردی کیی ای مردریگ
The party (of merchants) said to him, “O man (weak) as a sandhill, what were you doing, then? Who are you, O recreant?”
گفت من یک کس بدم ایشان گروه ** با سلاح و با شجاعت با شکوه
“I was (only one,” said he, “and they were a band, armed and brave and formidable.”
گفت اگر در جنگ کم بودت امید ** نعره‌ای زن کای کریمان برجهید
He (the spokesman of the merchants) said, “If you had no hope (of overcoming them) in battle, (why didn't you) shout, ‘Gentlemen, spring up (from your beds)?’”
گفت آن دم کارد بنمودند و تیغ ** که خمش ورنه کشیمت بی‌دریغ
He replied, “At that moment they produced knives and swords, crying, ‘Silence! or we will kill you ruthlessly.’
آن زمان از ترس بستم من دهان ** این زمان هیهای و فریاد و فغان 550
At that time I shut my mouth in terror; at this time (I can utter) screams and calls for help and cries of distress.
آن زمان بست آن دمم که دم زنم ** این زمان چندانک خواهی هی کنم
At that time my breath was stopped from breathing a word: at this time I will scream as much as you please.”
چونک عمرت برد دیو فاضحه ** بی‌نمک باشد اعوذ و فاتحه
After the Devil who exposes (sinners) to disgrace has carried off your life, it is foolish (to cry) “I take refuge (with God)” and (to recite) the Fátiha;
گرچه باشد بی‌نمک اکنون حنین ** هست غفلت بی‌نمک‌تر زان یقین
(But) though ’tis foolish to moan now, (yet) assuredly heedlessness is (even) more foolish than that (tardy supplication).
هم‌چنین هم بی‌نمک می‌نال نیز ** که ذلیلان را نظر کن ای عزیز
Continue to sob thus, even foolishly, crying, “Regard the base (sinners), O Almighty One!
قادری بی‌گاه باشد یا به گاه ** از تو چیزی فوت کی شد ای اله 555
Whether it be late or early, Thou art omnipotent: when did anything escape Thee, O God?”
شاه لا تاسوا علی ما فاتکم ** کی شود از قدرتش مطلوب گم
The King of (that ye) may not grieve for what hath escaped you —how should the object of (your) desire vanish from (the range of) His power?
حواله کردن مرغ گرفتاری خود را در دام به فعل و مکر و زرق زاهد و جواب زاهد مرغ را
How the bird attributed its being caught in the trap to the artifice and cunning and hypocrisy of the ascetic; and how the ascetic answered the bird.
گفت آن مرغ این سزای او بود ** که فسون زاهدان را بشنود
The bird said, “This is a fit punishment for one who listens to the beguiling talk of ascetics.”
گفت زاهد نه سزای آن نشاف ** کو خورد مال یتیمان از گزاف
“Nay,” said the ascetic; “it is a fit punishment for the greedy wretch who incontinently devours the property of orphans.”
بعد از آن نوحه‌گری آغاز کرد ** که فخ و صیاد لرزان شد ز درد
Afterwards it (the bird) began to lament in such wise that the trap and the fowler trembled at the grief (which it displayed),
کز تناقضهای دل پشتم شکست ** بر سرم جانا بیا می‌مال دست 560
Crying, “My back is broken by the contradictions (conflicting motives) in my heart: come, O Beloved, rub Thy hand on my head.
زیر دست تو سرم را راحتیست ** دست تو در شکربخشی آیتیست
Under Thy hand my head hath a (great) relief (from pain): Thy hand is a miracle in bestowing favour.
سایه‌ی خود از سر من برمدار ** بی‌قرارم بی‌قرارم بی‌قرار
Do not take away Thy shadow (protection) from my head: I am restless, restless, restless.
خوابها بیزار شد از چشم من ** در غمت ای رشک سرو و یاسمن
(All) sorts of sleep have quitted mine eye in my passion for Thee, O Thou who art envied by the cypress and the jasmine.
گر نیم لایق چه باشد گر دمی ** ناسزایی را بپرسی در غمی
Though I am not deserving (of Thy favour), what matter if for a moment Thou ask after an unworthy one (who is) in a (great) anguish?”
مر عدم را خود چه استحقاق بود ** که برو لطفت چنین درها گشود 565
What right (to Thy favour), forsooth, had Not-being, to which Thy grace opened such doors?
خاک گرگین را کرم آسیب کرد ** ده گهر از نور حس در جیب کرد
(Thy) bounty touched (embraced) the mangy earth and put in its bosom ten pearls of the light of sensation—
پنج حس ظاهر و پنج نهان ** که بشر شد نطفه‌ی مرده از آن
Five outward senses and five inward senses—whereby the dead semen was made Man.
توبه بی توفیقت ای نور بلند ** چیست جز بر ریش توبه ریش‌خند
Repentance without Thy blessing, O sublime Light, what is it but to laugh at the beard of repentance?
سبلتان توبه یک یک بر کنی ** توبه سایه‌ست و تو ماه روشنی
Thou dost tear the moustaches of repentance piecemeal: repentance is the shadow and Thou art the shining moon.