Rumi's Masnavi - If they beat drums in my honour (proclaiming me) as Lord and Sultan, (’tis like as when) the moon is eclipsed and the people beat bowls (of metal).

If they beat drums in my honour (proclaiming me) as Lord and Sultan, (’tis like as when) the moon is eclipsed and the people beat bowls (of metal).

نوبتم گر رب و سلطان می‌‌زنند ** مه گرفت و خلق پنگان می‌‌زنند

They beat those bowls and raise a clamour: they put the moon to shame by their blows.

می‌‌زنند آن طاس و غوغا می‌‌کنند ** ماه را ز آن زخمه رسوا می‌‌کنند

I, who am Pharaoh, oh, woe is me because of (what is being done by) the people: my (title of) ‘My supreme Lord’ is (like) the blows on the bowl (since it proclaims my eclipse). 2455

من که فرعونم ز شهرت وای من ** زخم طاس آن ربی الاعلای من‌‌

We (Moses and I) are fellow-servants (to Thee), but Thy axe is cleaving the boughs in Thy forest;

خواجه‌‌تاشانیم اما تیشه‌‌ات ** می‌‌شکافد شاخ را در بیشه‌‌ات‌‌

Then it makes one bough to be grafted, another bough to be left uncared for.

باز شاخی را موصل می‌‌کند ** شاخ دیگر را معطل می‌‌کند

The bough has no power against the axe: no bough escaped from the power of the axe.

شاخ را بر تیشه دستی هست نی ** هیچ شاخ از دست تیشه جست نی‌‌

(I entreat Thee) by the truth of the might which belongs to Thy axe, do Thou graciously make these crooked (perverse) actions (of ours) straight (righteous).”

حق آن قدرت که آن تیشه تراست ** از کرم کن این کژیها را تو راست‌‌

Once more Pharaoh said to himself, “Oh, wonderful! Am not I (occupied) the whole night in (crying) ‘O our Lord’? 2460

باز با خود گفته فرعون ای عجب ** من نه در یا ربناام جمله شب‌‌

In secret I am growing humble and harmonious: when I reach Moses, how am I becoming (so different)?

در نهان خاکی و موزون می‌‌شوم ** چون به موسی می‌‌رسم چون می‌‌شوم‌‌

The colour (gilt) of base gold is (laid on) in ten coats: how is it becoming black-faced in the presence of the fire?

رنگ زر قلب ده‌‌تو می‌‌شود ** پیش آتش چون سیه رو می‌‌شود