گشت حیران آن حلیمه زان صدا ** نه کسی در پیش نه سوی قفا
Halíma was bewildered by that voice: neither in front nor behind was any one (to be seen).
شش جهت خالی ز صورت وین ندا ** شد پیاپی آن ندا را جان فدا925
(All) the six directions were empty of (any visible) form, and this cry was continuous—may the soul be a ransom for that cry!
مصطفی را بر زمین بنهاد او ** تا کند آن بانگ خوش را جست و جو
She laid Mustafá on the earth, that she might search after the sweet sound.
چشم می‌انداخت آن دم سو به سو ** که کجا است این شه اسرارگو
Then she cast her eye to and fro, saying, “Where is that king that tells of mysteries?
کین چنین بانگ بلند از چپ و راست ** می‌رسد یا رب رساننده کجاست
For such a loud sound is arriving from left and right. O Lord, where is he that causes it to arrive?”
چون ندید او خیره و نومید شد ** جسم لرزان هم‌چو شاخ بید شد
When she did not see (any one), she became distraught and despairing: her body began to tremble like the willow-bough.
باز آمد سوی آن طفل رشید ** مصطفی را بر مکان خود ندید930
She came back towards that righteous child: she did not see Mustafá in his (former) place.
حیرت اندر حیرت آمد بر دلش ** گشت بس تاریک از غم منزلش
Bewilderment on bewilderment fell upon her heart: from grief her abode became very dark.
سوی منزلها دوید و بانگ داشت ** که کی بر دردانه‌ام غارت گماشت
She ran to the dwellings (hard by) and raised an outcry, saying, “Who has carried off my single pearl?”
مکیان گفتند ما را علم نیست ** ما ندانستیم که آنجا کودکیست
The Meccans said, “We have no knowledge: we knew not that a child was there.”
ریخت چندان اشک و کرد او بس فغان ** که ازو گریان شدند آن دیگران
She shed so many tears and made (so) much lamentation that those others began to weep because of her (grief).
سینه کوبان آن چنان بگریست خوش ** که اختران گریان شدند از گریه‌اش935
Beating her breast, she wept so well (mightily) that the stars were made to weep by her weeping.
حکایت آن پیر عرب کی دلالت کرد حلیمه را به استعانت به بتان
Story of the old Arab who directed Halíma to seek help from the idols.
پیرمردی پیشش آمد با عصا ** کای حلیمه چه فتاد آخر ترا
An old man with a staff approached her, saying, “Why, what hath befallen thee, O Halíma,
که چنین آتش ز دل افروختی ** این جگرها را ز ماتم سوختی
That thou didst let such a fire (of grief) blaze (forth) from thy heart and consume these bowels (of the bystanders) with mourning?”
گفت احمد را رضیعم معتمد ** پس بیاوردم که بسپارم به جد
She replied, “I am Ahmad's (Mohammed's) trusted foster-mother, so I brought him (back) to hand him over to his grandsire.
چون رسیدم در حطیم آوازها ** می‌رسید و می‌شنیدم از هوا
When I arrived in the Hatím, voices were coming (down) and I was hearing (them) from the air.
من چو آن الحان شنیدم از هوا ** طفل را بنهادم آنجا زان صدا940
When I heard from the air those melodious strains, because of that sound I laid down the infant there,
تا ببینم این ندا آواز کیست ** که ندایی بس لطیف و بس شهیست
To see whose voice is (the origin of) this cry, for it is a very beautiful cry and very delightful.
نه از کسی دیدم بگرد خود نشان ** نه ندا می منقطع شد یک زمان
I saw no sign of any one around me: the cry was not ceasing for one moment.
چونک واگشتم ز حیرتهای دل ** طفل را آنجا ندیدم وای دل
When I returned (to my senses) from the bewilderments of my heart, I did not see the child there (where I had left him): alas for my heart!”
گفتش ای فرزند تو انده مدار ** که نمایم مر ترا یک شهریار
He (the old man) said, “O daughter, do not grieve, for I will show unto thee a queen,
که بگوید گر بخواهد حال طفل ** او بداند منزل و ترحال طفل945
Who, if she wish, will tell what has happened to the child: she knows the dwelling-place of the child and his setting-out (on the way).”
پس حلیمه گفت ای جانم فدا ** مر ترا ای شیخ خوب خوش‌ندا
Then Halíma said, “Oh, my soul be a ransom for thee, O goodly and fair-spoken Shaykh!
هین مرا بنمای آن شاه نظر ** کش بود از حال طفل من خبر
Come, show me that queen of clairvoyance who hath knowledge of what has happened to my child.”
برد او را پیش عزی کین صنم ** هست در اخبار غیبی مغتنم
He brought her to ‘Uzzá, saying, “This idol is greatly prized for information concerning the Unseen.
ما هزاران گم شده زو یافتیم ** چون به خدمت سوی او بشتافتیم
Through her we have found thousands that were lost, when we hastened towards her in devotion.”
پیر کرد او را سجود و گفت زود ** ای خداوند عرب ای بحر جود950
The old man prostrated himself before her (‘Uzzá) and said at once, “O Sovereign of the Arabs, O sea of munificence!”
گفت ای عزی تو بس اکرامها ** کرده‌ای تا رسته‌ایم از دامها
(Then) he said, “O ‘Uzzá, thou hast done many favours (to us), so that we have been delivered from snares.
بر عرب حقست از اکرام تو ** فرض گشته تا عرب شد رام تو
On account of thy favour the duty (of worshipping thee) has become obligatory to the Arabs, so that the Arabs have submitted to thee.
این حلیمه‌ی سعدی از اومید تو ** آمد اندر ظل شاخ بید تو
In hope of thee this Halíma of (the tribe) Sa‘d has come into the shadow of thy willow-bough,
که ازو فرزند طفلی گم شدست ** نام آن کودک محمد آمدست
For an infant child of hers is lost: the name of that child is Mohammed.”
چون محمد گفت آن جمله بتان ** سرنگون گشت و ساجد آن زمان955
When he said “Mohammed,” all those idols immediately fell headlong and prostrate,
که برو ای پیر این چه جست و جوست ** آن محمد را که عزل ما ازوست
Saying, “Begone, O old man! What is this search after that Mohammed by whom we are deposed?
ما نگون و سنگسار آییم ازو ** ما کساد و بی‌عیار آییم ازو
By him we are overthrown and reduced to a collection of (broken) stones; by him we are made unsaleable and valueless.
آن خیالاتی که دیدندی ز ما ** وقت فترت گاه گاه اهل هوا
Those phantoms which the followers of vain opinion used to see from us at times during the Fatra
گم شود چون بارگاه او رسید ** آب آمد مر تیمم را درید
Will disappear now that his royal court has arrived: the water is come and has torn up (annulled) the ablution with sand.
دور شو ای پیر فتنه کم فروز ** هین ز رشک احمدی ما را مسوز960
Get thee far off, O old man! Do not kindle mischief! Hark, do not burn us with (the fire of) Ahmad's (Mohammed's) jealousy!
دور شو بهر خدا ای پیر تو ** تا نسوزی ز آتش تقدیر تو
Get thee far off, for God's sake, O old man, lest thou (too) be burnt by the fire of Fore-ordainment.
این چه دم اژدها افشردنست ** هیچ دانی چه خبر آوردنست
What squeezing of the dragon's tail is this? Dost thou know at all what the announcement (of Mohammed's advent) is (in its effects)?
زین خبر جوشد دل دریا و کان ** زین خبر لرزان شود هفت آسمان
At this news the heart of sea and mine will surge; at this news the seven heavens will tremble.”
چون شنید از سنگها پیر این سخن ** پس عصا انداخت آن پیر کهن
When the old man heard these words from the stones (idols), the ancient old man let his staff drop (from his hand);
پس ز لرزه و خوف و بیم آن ندا ** پیر دندانها به هم بر می‌زدی965
Then, from tremor and fear and dread caused by that proclamation (of the idols), the old man was striking his teeth together.
آنچنان که اندر زمستان مرد عور ** او همی لرزید و می‌گفت ای ثبور
Even as a naked man in winter, he was shuddering and saying, “O destruction!”
چون در آن حالت بدید او پیر را ** زان عجب گم کرد زن تدبیر را
When she (Halíma) saw the old man in such a state (of terror), in consequence of that marvel the woman lost (the power of) deliberation.
گفت پیر اگر چه من در محنتم ** حیرت اندر حیرت اندر حیرتم
She said, “O old man, though I am in affliction (on account of the loss of Mohammed), I am in manifold bewilderment (not knowing whether I should grieve or rejoice).
ساعتی بادم خطیبی می‌کند ** ساعتی سنگم ادیبی می‌کند
At one moment the wind is making a speech to me, at another moment the stones are schooling me.
باد با حرفم سخنها می‌دهد ** سنگ و کوهم فهم اشیا می‌دهد970
The wind addresses me with articulate words, the stones and mountains give me intelligence of (the real nature of) things.
گاه طفلم را ربوده غیبیان ** غیبیان سبز پر آسمان
Once (before) they of the Invisible carried off my child—they of the Invisible, the green-winged ones of Heaven.
از کی نالم با کی گویم این گله ** من شدم سودایی اکنون صد دله
Of whom shall I complain? To whom shall I tell this plaint? I am become crazy and in a hundred minds.
غیرتش از شرح غیبم لب ببست ** این قدر گویم که طفلم گم شدست
His (God's) jealousy has closed my lips (so that I am unable) to unfold (the tale of) the mystery: I say (only) this much, that my child is lost.