کرمکست آن اژدها از دست فقر ** پشه‌ای گردد ز جاه و مال صقر

That dragon, under stress of poverty, is a little worm, (but) a gnat is made a falcon by power and riches.

اژدها را دار در برف فراق ** هین مکش او را به خورشید عراق

Keep the dragon in the snow of separation (from its desires); beware, do not carry it into the sun of ‘Iráq.

تا فسرده می‌بود آن اژدهات ** لقمه‌ی اویی چو او یابد نجات

So long as that dragon of thine remains frozen, (well and good); thou art a mouthful for it, when it gains release.

مات کن او را و آمن شو ز مات ** رحم کم کن نیست او ز اهل صلات

Mortify it and become safe from (spiritual) death; have no mercy: it is not one of them that deserve favours;

کان تف خورشید شهوت بر زند ** آن خفاش مردریگت پر زند 1060

For (when) the heat of the sun of lust strikes upon it, that vile bat of thine flaps its wings.

می‌کشانش در جهاد و در قتال ** مردوار الله یجزیک الوصال

Lead it manfully to the (spiritual) warfare and battle: God will reward thee with access (to Him).

چونک آن مرد اژدها را آورید ** در هوای گرم خوش شد آن مرید

When that man brought the dragon into the hot air, the insolent brute became well (again),

لاجرم آن فتنه‌ها کرد ای عزیز ** بیست همچندان که ما گفتیم نیز

Inevitably it wrought those mischiefs, my dear friend, (and others) too, twenty times as many as we have told.

تو طمع داری که او را بی جفا ** بسته داری در وقار و در وفا

Dost thou hope, without using violence, to keep it bound in quiet and faithfulness?

هر خسی را این تمنی کی رسد ** موسیی باید که اژدرها کشد 1065

How should this wish be fulfilled for any worthless one? It needs a Moses to kill the dragon.

صدهزاران خلق ز اژدرهای او ** در هزیمت کشته شد از رای او

By his dragon hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the rout, as he had designed.

تهدید کردن فرعون موسی را علیه السلام

How Pharaoh threatened Moses, on whom be peace.

گفت فرعونش چرا تو ای کلیم ** خلق را کشتی و افکندی تو بیم

Pharaoh said to him, “Why didst thou, O Kalím, kill the people and cause fear to fall (on them)?

در هزیمت از تو افتادند خلق ** در هزیمت کشته شد مردم ز زلق

The people were put to flight and rout by thee; in the rout the folk were killed through slipping (and being crushed to death).

لاجرم مردم ترا دشمن گرفت ** کین تو در سینه مرد و زن گرفت

Necessarily, the folk have come to regard thee as their enemy; (both) men and women have conceived hatred of thee in their breasts.

خلق را می‌خواندی بر عکس شد ** از خلافت مردمان را نیست بد 1070

Thou wert calling the people to (follow) thee, (but) it has turned out contrariwise: the folk cannot but resist thee.

من هم از شرت اگر پس می‌خزم ** در مکافات تو دیگی می‌پزم

I too, though I am creeping (shrinking) back from thy malice, am concocting a plan to requite thee.

دل ازین بر کن که بفریبی مرا ** یا بجز فی پس‌روی گردد ترا

Put away from thine heart the thought that thou wilt deceive me or that thou wilt get any follower but thy shadow.

تو بدان غره مشو کش ساختی ** در دل خلقان هراس انداختی

Be not deluded by that which thou hast contrived: thou hast (only) cast terror into the hearts of the people.

صد چنین آری و هم رسوا شوی ** خوار گردی ضحکه‌ی غوغا شوی

Thou mayst bring (forward) a hundred such (devices), and thou wilt be exposed in the same way; thou wilt become despicable and the laughing-stock of the mob.

همچو تو سالوس بسیاران بدند ** عاقبت در مصر ما رسوا شدند 1075

Many have been impostors like thee, (but) in our Egypt they have been brought to disgrace in the end.”

جواب موسی فرعون را در تهدیدی کی می‌کردش

The answer of Moses to Pharaoh concerning the threats which he made against him.

گفت با امر حقم اشراک نیست ** گر بریزد خونم امرش باک نیست

He (Moses) said, “I admit nothing as co-partner with the command of God: if His command shall shed my blood, there is no fear (on my part).

راضیم من شاکرم من ای حریف ** این طرف رسوا و پیش حق شریف

I am content, I am thankful, O adversary: here (I am) disgraced, but with God (I am) honoured.

پیش خلقان خوار و زار و ریش‌خند ** پیش حق محبوب و مطلوب و پسند

In the sight of the people (I am) contemptible and wretched and a laughingstock: in God's sight (I am) loved and sought and approved.

از سخن می‌گویم این ورنه خدا ** از سیه‌رویان کند فردا ترا

I say this (merely as a matter) of words; otherwise (in fact), to-morrow (on the Day of Judgement) God will make thee one of the black-faced.

عزت آن اوست و آن بندگانش ** ز آدم و ابلیس بر می‌خوان نشانش 1080

Glory belongs to Him and to His servants (alone): recite (from the Qur’án) the sign thereof (made manifest) through Adam and Iblís.

شرح حق پایان ندارد همچو حق ** هین دهان بربند و برگردان ورق

The explanation of (the attributes of) God, like God (Himself), hath no limit. Take heed, close thy mouth and turn over a (new) leaf.”

پاسخ فرعون موسی را علیه السلام

The reply of Pharaoh to Moses, on whom be peace.

گفت فرعونش ورق درحکم ماست ** دفتر و دیوان حکم این دم مراست

Pharaoh said to him, “The leaf is under my authority; the book and register of authority is mine at this moment.

مر مرا بخریده‌اند اهل جهان ** از همه عاقلتری تو ای فلان

The people of the world have chosen me: art thou wiser than all, O fellow?

موسیا خود را خریدی هین برو ** خویشتن کم بین به خود غره مشو

O Moses, thou hast vaunted thyself. Hark, begone! Have less regard for thyself, be not self-deluded.

جمع آرم ساحران دهر را ** تا که جهل تو نمایم شهر را 1085

I will assemble the magicians of the world, that I may exhibit thy foolishness to the city.

این نخواهد شد بروزی و دو روز ** مهلتم ده تا چهل روز تموز

(But) this will not be done in a day or two: give me time (and wait) till the forty days (which end in the month) of Tamúz.”

جواب موسی فرعون را

The answer of Moses, on whom be peace, to Pharaoh.

گفت موسی این مرا دستور نیست ** بنده‌ام امهال تو مامور نیست

Moses said, “This is not permitted to me: I am the slave (of God): the giving of time to thee is not commanded.

گر تو چیری و مرا خود یار نیست ** بنده فرمانم بدانم کار نیست

If thou art powerful and I in sooth have no ally, (yet) I am subject to His command: I have nothing to do with that.

می‌زنم با تو بجد تا زنده‌ام ** من چه کاره‌ی نصرتم من بنده‌ام

I will combat thee with all my might so long as I live; what have I to do with helping (God)? I am a slave.

می‌زنم تا در رسد حکم خدا ** او کند هر خصم از خصمی جدا 1090

I will fight till the decision of God comes to pass: He (alone) separates every adversary from an adversary.”

جواب فرعون موسی را و وحی آمدن موسی را علیه‌السلام

The reply of Pharaoh to Moses, and the coming of a Divine revelation to Moses, on whom be peace.

گفت نه نه مهلتم باید نهاد ** عشوه‌ها کم ده تو کم پیمای باد

He (Pharaoh) said, “Nay, nay, thou must appoint a certain respite: do not give cajoleries, do not talk vain things.”

حق تعالی وحی کردش در زمان ** مهلتش ده متسع مهراس از آن

At once the high God made a revelation to him, saying, “Give him an ample respite: be not afraid of that.

این چهل روزش بده مهلت بطوع ** تا سگالد مکرها او نوع نوع

Willingly give him these forty days, that he may bethink him of divers plots.

تا بکوشد او که نی من خفته‌ام ** تیز رو گو پیش ره بگرفته‌ام

Let him endeavour, for I am not asleep; bid him advance quickly, (for) I have barred the way in front (of him).

حیله‌هاشان را همه برهم زنم ** و آنچ افزایند من بر کم زنم 1095

I will confound all their devices, and I will reduce to little that which they increase.

آب را آرند من آتش کنم ** نوش و خوش گیرند و من ناخوش کنم

Let them fetch water, and I will make (it) fire; let them get honey and sweets and I will make (it) bitter.

مهر پیوندند و من ویران کنم ** آنک اندر وهم نارند آن کنم

Let them join in a bond of love, and I will destroy it; I will do that which they conceive not.

تو مترس و مهلتش ده دم‌دراز ** گو سپه گرد آر و صد حیلت بساز

Have thou no fear, and give him a lengthy respite; bid him bring together his host and prepare a hundred devices.”

مهلت دادن موسی علیه‌السلام فرعون را تا ساحران را جمع کند از مداین

How Moses, on whom be peace, gave Pharaoh a respite, that he might assemble the magicians from the cities.

گفت امر آمد برو مهلت ترا ** من بجای خود شدم رستی ز ما

He (Moses) said, “The (Divine) command hath come. Go, the respite is (granted) to thee. I depart to my dwelling-place: thou art delivered from me.”

او همی‌شد و اژدها اندر عقب ** چون سگ صیاد دانا و محب 1100

He was going (on his way), and at his heels (went) the dragon wise and loving, like the hunter's dog.

چون سگ صیاد جنبان کرده دم ** سنگ را می‌کرد ریگ او زیر سم

Like the hunter's dog, wagging its tail: it made the stones (crumble as) sand beneath its hoof.

سنگ و آهن را بدم در می‌کشید ** خرد می‌خایید آهن را پدید

With its breath it drew in stone and iron (to its jaws) and visibly chewed the iron into small fragments.

در هوا می‌کرد خود بالای برج ** که هزیمت می‌شد از وی روم و گرج

In the air it was making itself (rise) above the zodiac, so that Greeks and Georgians would flee from it in panic.

کفک می‌انداخت چون اشتر ز کام ** قطره‌ای بر هر که زد می‌شد جذام

From its palate it cast out foam, like a camel: whomsoever a drop hit, he was smitten with tubercular leprosy.

ژغژغ دندان او دل می‌شکست ** جان شیران سیه می‌شد ز دست 1105

The gnashing of its teeth would break the heart; the souls of black lions would be distraught (with terror).