در جگر افتاده‌استم صد شرر ** در مناجاتم ببین بوی جگر
A hundred sparks of fire have fallen on my heart: perceive in my orisons the smell of my (burning) heart.
این چنین اندوه کافر را مباد ** دامن رحمت گرفتم داد داد 2260
May anguish like this not be the infidel's (portion)! I clutch the skirt of (Thy) mercy. Help, help!
کاشکی مادر نزادی مر مرا ** یا مرا شیری بخوردی در چرا
Would that my mother had not borne me, or that a lion had devoured me in the pasture!
ای خدا آن کن که از تو می‌سزد ** که ز هر سوراخ مارم می‌گزد
O God, do Thou what is worthy to be done by Thee, for from every hole a snake is biting me.
جان سنگین دارم و دل آهنین ** ورنه خون گشتی درین رنج و حنین
I have a soul of stone, and my heart is of iron, otherwise they would have turned into blood in this sorrow and lamentation.
وقت تنگ آمد مرا و یک نفس ** پادشاهی کن مرا فریاد رس
The time presses and I have (only) one moment (left): act in kingly fashion, come to my aid!
گر مرا این بار ستاری کنی ** توبه کردم من ز هر ناکردنی 2265
If Thou wilt cover me up (conceal my sin) this time, (henceforth) I repent of everything that ought not to be done.
توبه‌ام بپذیر این بار دگر ** تا ببندم بهر توبه صد کمر
Accept my repentance this once more, that I may gird myself with a hundred belts for repentance.
من اگر این بار تقصیری کنم ** پس دگر مشنو دعا و گفتنم
If I commit any fault (in keeping my vow) this time, then do not hearken again to my prayer and words (of entreaty).”
این همی زارید و صد قطره روان ** که در افتادم به جلاد و عوان
Thus was he moaning while a hundred tears flowed (from his eyes). “I have fallen,” he cried, “into the hands of the executioner and policeman.
تا نمیرد هیچ افرنگی چنین ** هیچ ملحد را مبادا این حنین
Let no Frank die such a death: may no mulhid (Ismá‘ílí or ‘Assassin’) have (cause to make) this lamentation!”
نوحه‌ها کرد او بر جان خویش ** روی عزرائیل دیده پیش پیش 2270
He was uttering cries of mourning over his soul, (for) he saw the face of Azrael (coming) nearer and nearer.
ای خدا و ای خدا چندان بگفت ** که آن در و دیوار با او گشت جفت
He cried “O God, O God” so often that door and wall joined with him (echoed his words).
در میان یارب و یارب بد او ** بانگ آمد از میان جست و جو
He was deep in “O Lord” and “O Lord” (when suddenly) from amidst the (people engaged in) search came the (following) announcement.
نوبت جستن رسیدن به نصوح و آواز آمدن که همه را جستیم نصوح را بجویید و بیهوش شدن نصوح از آن هیبت و گشاده شدن کار بعد از نهایت بستگی کماکان یقول رسول الله صلی الله علیه و سلم اذا اصابه مرض او هم اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی
[How the turn came for Nasúh to be searched, and how a voice proclaimed—“We have searched them all, (now) search Nasúh”; and how Nasúh became senseless from terror, and how after extreme oppression of spirit the way of deliverance was opened to him, as the Prophet of God—may God bless and save him!— used to say, whenever sickness or anxiety overtook him, “O distress, become severe: then thou wilt pass away.”]
جمله را جستیم پیش آی ای نصوح ** گشت بیهوش آن زمان پرید روح
“We have searched them all: come forward, O Nasúh.” Thereupon he lost his senses, his spirit took wing.
هم‌چو دیوار شکسته در فتاد ** هوش و عقلش رفت شد او چون جماد
He fell like a broken wall: his consciousness and understanding departed, he became like lifeless matter.
چونک هوشش رفت از تن بی‌امان ** سر او با حق بپیوست آن زمان 2275
When his consciousness went without delay from his body, at that moment his inmost soul was united with God.
چون تهی گشت و وجود او نماند ** باز جانش را خدا در پیش خواند
When he was emptied (of self) and his (self-) existence remained not, God called the falcon, his soul, into His presence.
چون شکست آن کشتی او بی‌مراد ** در کنار رحمت دریا فتاد
When his ship was wrecked and every hope had failed, he was cast on the seashore of (Divine) Mercy.
جان به حق پیوست چون بیهوش شد ** موج رحمت آن زمان در جوش شد
His soul became united with God: at the moment when he lost consciousness the waves of Mercy began to surge.
چون که جانش وا رهید از ننگ تن ** رفت شادان پیش اصل خویشتن
When his soul was freed from the disgrace of the body, it went rejoicing towards its Origin.
جان چو باز و تن مرورا کنده‌ای ** پای بسته پر شکسته بنده‌ای 2280
The soul is like a falcon, and the body is its fetter: (’tis) a foot-bound broken-winged creature;
چونک هوشش رفت و پایش بر گشاد ** می‌پرد آن باز سوی کیقباد
(But) when its self-consciousness is gone and its foot untied, that falcon flies towards the King.
چونک دریاهای رحمت جوش کرد ** سنگها هم آب حیوان نوش کرد
When the seas of Mercy begin to surge, even stones drink the Water of Life.
ذره‌ی لاغر شگرف و زفت شد ** فرش خاکی اطلس و زربفت شد
The frail mote becomes stout and strong; the carpet of earth becomes (like) satin and cloth of gold.
مرده‌ی صدساله بیرون شد ز گور ** دیو ملعون شد به خوبی رشک حور
He that has been dead a hundred years comes forth from the grave; the accursed devil becomes an object of envy to the houris on account of his beauty.
این همه روی زمین سرسبز شد ** چوب خشک اشکوفه کرد و نغز شد 2285
The whole face of this earth becomes verdant; the dry wood buds and becomes flourishing.
گرگ با بره حریف می شده ** ناامیدان خوش‌رگ و خوش پی شده
The wolf becomes the cup-companion of the lamb; the despairing become courageous and valiant.
یافته شدن گوهر و حلالی خواستن حاجبکان و کنیزکان شاه‌زاده از نصوح
The finding of the jewel, and how the ladies-in-waiting and handmaids of the princess begged Nasúh to exonerate them.
بعد از آن خوفی هلاک جان بده ** مژده‌ها آمد که اینک گم شده
After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
بانگ آمد ناگهان که رفت بیم ** یافت شد گم گشته آن در یتیم
Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
یافت شد واندر فرح در بافتیم ** مژدگانی ده که گوهر یافتیم
It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
از غریو و نعره و دستک زدن ** پر شده حمام قد زال الحزن 2290
The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared.
آن نصوح رفته باز آمد به خویش ** دید چشمش تابش صد روز بیش
Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
می حلالی خواست از وی هر کسی ** بوسه می‌دادند بر دستش بسی
Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
بد گمان بردیم و کن ما را حلال ** گوشت تو خوردیم اندر قیل و قال
(They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
زانک ظن جمله بر وی بیش بود ** زانک در قربت ز جمله پیش بود
For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
خاص دلاکش بد و محرم نصوح ** بلک هم‌چون دو تنی یک گشته روح 2295
Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul.
گوهر ار بردست او بردست و بس ** زو ملازم‌تر به خاتون نیست کس
(Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
اول او را خواست جستن در نبرد ** بهر حرمت داشتش تاخیر کرد
At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
تا بود کان را بیندازد به جا ** اندرین مهلت رهاند خویش را
In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
این حلالیها ازو می‌خواستند ** وز برای عذر برمی‌خاستند
They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
گفت بد فضل خدای دادگر ** ورنه زآنچم گفته شد هستم بتر 2300
He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me).
چه حلالی خواست می‌باید ز من ** که منم مجرم‌تر اهل زمن
Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
آنچ گفتندم ز بد از صد یکیست ** بر من این کشفست ار کس را شکیست
The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
کس چه می‌داند ز من جز اندکی ** از هزاران جرم و بد فعلم یکی
What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
من همی دانم و آن ستار من ** جرمها و زشتی کردار من
I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.
اول ابلیسی مرا استاد بود ** بعد از آن ابلیس پیشم باد بود 2305
At first an Iblís was my teacher; afterwards Iblís was (mere) wind in comparison with me.
حق بدید آن جمله را نادیده کرد ** تا نگردم در فضیحت روی‌زرد
God saw all that (iniquity), (but) made as though He saw it not, lest I should be openly dishonoured by its exposure.
باز رحمت پوستین دوزیم کرد ** توبه‌ی شیرین چو جان روزیم کرد
Moreover, (the Divine) Mercy exercised the furrier's craft on me and bestowed on me a repentance sweet as life.
هر چه کردم جمله ناکرده گرفت ** طاعت ناکرده آورده گرفت
Whatever (ill deeds) I had done, it took them as not having been done; and my undone (acts of) obedience it took as having been performed.