ما چه خود را در سخن آغشته‌ایم ** کز حکایت ما حکایت گشته‌ایم
Why have I steeped myself in the discourse, so that from story-telling I have become a story?
من عدم و افسانه گردم در حنین ** تا تقلب یابم اندر ساجدین
I become naught and (unsubstantial as) a fable in making moan (to God), in order that I may gain influence over (the hearts of) them that prostrate themselves in prayer.
این حکایت نیست پیش مرد کار ** وصف حالست و حضور یار غار
This (story of Moses and Pharaoh) is not a story in the eyes of the man of experience: it is a description of an actual (spiritual) state, and it is (equivalent to) the presence of the Friend of the Cave.
آن اساطیر اولین که گفت عاق ** حرف قرآن را بد آثار نفاق1150
That (phrase) “stories of the ancients,” which the disobedient (infidels) applied to the words of the Qur’án, was a mark of (their) hypocrisy.
لامکانی که درو نور خداست ** ماضی و مستقبل و حال از کجاست
The man transcending space, in whom is the Light of God— whence (what concern of his) is the past, the future, or the present?
ماضی و مستقبلش نسبت به تست ** هر دو یک چیزند پنداری که دوست
His being past or future is (only) in relation to thee: both are one thing, and thou thinkest they are two.
یک تنی او را پدر ما را پسر ** بام زیر زید و بر عمرو آن زبر
One individual is to him father and to us son: the roof is below Zayd and above ‘Amr.
نسبت زیر و زبر شد زان دو کس ** سقف سوی خویش یک چیزست بس
The relation of “below” and “above” arises from those two persons: as regards itself, the roof is one thing only.
نیست مثل آن مثالست این سخن ** قاصر از معنی نو حرف کهن1155
These expressions are not (exactly) similar to that (doctrine of spiritual timelessness): they are a comparison: the old words fall short of the new meaning.
چون لب جو نیست مشکا لب ببند ** بی لب و ساحل بدست این بحر قند
Since there is no river-marge, close thy lips, O waterskin: this Sea of candy hath (ever) been without marge or shore.
فرستادن فرعون به مداین در طلب ساحران
How Pharaoh sent (messengers) to the cities in search of the magicians.
چونک موسی بازگشت و او بماند ** اهل رای و مشورت را پیش خواند
When Moses had returned (home) and he (Pharaoh) remained (with his own people), he called his advisers and counsellors to his presence.
آنچنان دیدند کز اطراف مصر ** جمع آردشان شه و صراف مصر
They deemed it right that the King and Ruler of Egypt should assemble them (the magicians) from all parts of Egypt.
او بسی مردم فرستاد آن زمان ** هر نواحی بهر جمع جادوان
Thereupon he sent many men in every direction to collect the sorcerers.
هر طرف که ساحری بد نامدار ** کرد پران سوی او ده پیک کار1160
In whatsoever region there was a renowned magician, he set flying towards him ten active couriers.
دو جوان بودند ساحر مشتهر ** سحر ایشان در دل مه مستمر
There were two youths, famous magicians: their magic penetrated into the heart of the moon.
شیر دوشیده ز مه فاش آشکار ** در سفرها رفته بر خمی سوار
They milked the moon publicly and openly; in their journeys they went mounted on a wine-jar.
شکل کرباسی نموده ماهتاب ** آن بپیموده فروشیده شتاب
They caused the moonshine to appear like a piece of linen: they measured and sold it speedily,
سیم برده مشتری آگه شده ** دست از حسرت به رخها بر زده
And took the silver away: the purchaser, on becoming aware (of the fraud), would smite his hand upon his cheeks in grief.
صد هزاران همچنین در جادوی ** بوده منشی و نبوده چون روی1165
They were the inventors of a hundred thousand such (tricks) in sorcery, and were not (following others) like the rhyme-letter.
چون بدیشان آمد آن پیغام شاه ** کز شما شاهست اکنون چاره‌خواه
When the King's message reached them, (to this effect): “The king is now desiring help from you,
از پی آنک دو درویش آمدند ** بر شه و بر قصر او موکب زدند
Because two dervishes have come and marched in force against the King and his palace.
نیست با ایشان بغیر یک عصا ** که همی‌گردد به امرش اژدها
They have naught with them except one rod, which becomes a dragon at his (Moses') command.
شاه و لشکر جمله بیچاره شدند ** زین دو کس جمله به افغان آمدند
The King and the whole army are helpless: all have been brought to lamentation by these two persons.
چاره‌ای می‌باید اندر ساحری ** تا بود که زین دو ساحر جان بری1170
A remedy must be sought in magic, that maybe thou wilt save (their) lives from these two enchanters—”
آن دو ساحر را چو این پیغام داد ** ترس و مهری در دل هر دو فتاد
When he (the messenger) gave the message to those two magicians, a (great) fear and love descended on the hearts of them both.
عرق جنسیت چو جنبیدن گرفت ** سر به زانو بر نهادند از شگفت
When the vein of homogeneity began to throb, they laid their heads upon their knees in astonishment.
چون دبیرستان صوفی زانوست ** حل مشکل را دو زانو جادوست
Inasmuch as the knee is the Súfí's school, the two knees are sorcerers for solving a difficulty.
خواندن آن دو ساحر پدر را از گور و پرسیدن از روان پدر حقیقت موسی علیه السلام
How those two magicians summoned their father from the grave and questioned their father's spirit concerning the real nature of Moses, on whom be peace.
بعد از آن گفتند ای مادر بیا ** گور بابا کو تو ما را ره نما
Afterwards they said, “Come, O mother, where is our father's grave? Do thou show us the way.”
بردشان بر گور او بنمود راه ** پس سه‌روزه داشتند از بهر شاه1175
She took them and showed the way to his grave: then they kept a three days' fast for the sake of the King.
بعد از آن گفتند ای بابا به ما ** شاه پیغامی فرستاد از وجا
After that they said, “O father, the King in consternation hath sent us a message
که دو مرد او را به تنگ آورده‌اند ** آب رویش پیش لشکر برده‌اند
(To say) that two men have brought him to sore straits and have destroyed his prestige with the army.
نیست با ایشان سلاح و لشکری ** جز عصا و در عصا شور و شری
There is not with them any weapons or soldiers; nothing but a rod, and in the rod is a calamity and bane.
تو جهان راستان در رفته‌ای ** گرچه در صورت به خاکی خفته‌ای
Thou art gone into the world of the righteous, though to outward seeming thou liest in a tomb.
آن اگر سحرست ما را ده خبر ** ور خدایی باشد ای جان پدر1180
If that is magic, inform us; and if it be divine, O spirit of our father,
هم خبر ده تا که ما سجده کنیم ** خویشتن بر کیمیایی بر زنیم
(In that case) also inform us, so that we may bow down (before them) and bring ourselves in touch with an elixir.
ناامیدانیم و اومیدی رسید ** راندگانیم و کرم ما را کشید
We are despairing, and a hope has come; we are banished, and Mercy has drawn us (towards favour).”
جواب گفتن ساحر مرده با فرزندان خود
How the dead magician answered his sons.
گفتشان در خواب کای اولاد من ** نیست ممکن ظاهر این را دم زدن
He said to them in (their) dream, "O my sons, it is not possible (to speak) openly: do not utter this (request)."
فاش و مطلق گفتنم دستور نیست ** لیک راز از پیش چشمم دور نیست
It is not permitted to me to speak openly and freely, yet the mystery is not far from mine eye.
لیک بنمایم نشانی با شما ** تا شود پیدا شما را این خفا1185
But I will show unto you a sign, that this hidden thing may be made manifest to you.
نور چشمانم چو آنجا گه روید ** از مقام خفتنش آگه شوید
O light of mine eyes, when ye go thither, become acquainted with the place where he sleeps,
آن زمان که خفته باشد آن حکیم ** آن عصا را قصد کن بگذار بیم
And at the time when that Sage is asleep, make for the rod, abandon fear.
گر بدزدی و توانی ساحرست ** چاره‌ی ساحر بر تو حاضرست
If thou shalt steal it and art able (to do so), he is a magician; the means of dealing with a magician is present with thee;
ور نتانی هان و هان آن ایزدیست ** او رسول ذوالجلال و مهتدیست
But if thou canst not (steal it), beware and beware! That (man) is of God: he is the messenger of the Glorious (God) and is (divinely) guided.
گر جهان فرعون گیرد شرق و غرب ** سرنگون آید خدا آنگاه حرب1190
Though Pharaoh occupy the world, east and west, he will fall headlong: God and then war!
این نشان راست دادم جان باب ** بر نویس الله اعلم بالصواب
I give (thee) this true sign, O soul of thy father: inscribe it (in thy heart): God best knoweth the right course.
جان بابا چون بخسپد ساحری ** سحر و مکرش را نباشد رهبری
O soul of thy father, when a magician sleeps, there is none to direct his magic and craft.
چونک چوپان خفت گرگ آمن شود ** چونک خفت آن جهد او ساکن شود
When the shepherd has gone to sleep, the wolf becomes unafraid: when he sleeps, his exertion ceases;
لیک حیوانی که چوپانش خداست ** گرگ را آنجا امید و ره کجاست
But the animal whose shepherd is God—how hath the wolf hope or way (of getting) there?
جادوی که حق کند حقست و راست ** جادوی خواندن مر آن حق را خطاست1195
The sorcery which God practises is real and true: ’tis wrong to call that real thing sorcery.
جان بابا این نشان قاطعست ** گر بمیرد نیز حقش رافعست
O soul of thy father, this is the decisive sign: even if he (a prophet) die, God exalteth him.”
تشبیه کردن قرآن مجید را به عصای موسی و وفات مصطفی را علیه السلام نمودن بخواب موسی و قاصدان تغییر قرآن را با آن دو ساحر بچه کی قصد بردن عصا کردند چو موسی را خفته یافتند
Comparison of the sublime Qur’án to the rod of Moses, and the death of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, to the sleep of Moses, and those who seek to alter the Qur’án to the two young magicians who attempted to carry off the rod of Moses when they found him asleep.