He interceded (with God on their behalf) and said, “Give this kingdom and banner (to them) with (accompanied by) the (spiritual) perfection which Thou hast given to me.
شد شفیع و گفت این ملک و لوا ** با کمالی ده که دادی مر مرا
To whomsoever Thou wilt give (it), and (on whomsoever) Thou wilt confer that bounty, he (that person) is Solomon, and I also am he.
هر که را بدهی و بکنی آن کرم ** او سلیمان است و آن کس هم منم
He is not ‘after me,’ he is with me. What of ‘with me,’ indeed? I am without rival.”
او نباشد بعدی او باشد معی ** خود معی چه بود منم بی‌‌مدعی
’Tis my duty to explain this, but (now) I will return to the story of the man and wife.2615
شرح این فرض است گفتن لیک من ** باز می‌‌گردم به قصه‌‌ی مرد و زن
The moral of the altercation of the Arab and his wife.
مخلص ماجرای عرب و جفت او
The heart of one who is sincere is seeking (to find) a moral for the altercation of the man and wife.
ماجرای مرد و زن را مخلصی ** باز می‌‌جوید درون مخلصی
The altercation of the man and wife has been related (as a story): know that it is a parable of your own flesh (nafs) and reason.
ماجرای مرد و زن افتاد نقل ** آن مثال نفس خود می‌‌دان و عقل
This man and wife, which are the flesh and the reason, are very necessary for (the manifestation of) good and evil;
این زن و مردی که نفس است و خرد ** نیک بایسته ست بهر نیک و بد
And this necessary pair in this house of earth are (engaged) in strife and altercation day and night.
وین دو بایسته در این خاکی سرا ** روز و شب در جنگ و اندر ماجرا
The wife is craving requisites for the household, that is to say, reputation and bread and viands and rank.2620
زن همی‌‌خواهد هویج خانگاه ** یعنی آب رو و نان و خوان و جاه
Like the wife, the flesh, in order to contrive the means (of gratifying its desires), is at one time seeking (having recourse to) humility and at another time to domination.
نفس همچون زن پی چاره‌‌گری ** گاه خاکی گاه جوید سروری