Even as there was a dense host (of infidels), (but) to the Prophet’s eye it seemed small,
همچنان که لشکر انبوه بود ** مر پیمبر را به چشم اندک نمود
So that the Prophet set upon them without (fear of) the danger; but if he had deemed (them) more (in number), he would have acted cautiously in that (affair).
تا بر ایشان زد پیمبر بیخطر ** ور فزون دیدی از آن کردی حذر
That was the Divine favour, and thou wert worthy of it, O Ahmad (Mohammed); else, thou wouldst have become faint-hearted.
آن عنایت بود و اهل آن بدی ** احمدا ور نه تو بد دل میشدی
God caused the outward and inward warfare to seem little to him and his Companions,2295
کم نمود او را و اصحاب و را ** آن جهاد ظاهر وباطن خدا
In order that He might make it easy for him to gain ease (success), and that he might turn away his face from difficulty (unsuccess).
تا میسر کرد یسری را بر او ** تا ز عسری او بگردانید رو
For him, (God’s) causing (the warfare) to seem little was victory, since God was his friend and taught him the way.
کم نمودن مر و را پیروز بود ** که حقش یار و طریق آموز بود
(But) he that hath not God for his victorious support, alas if the fierce lion seem to him a cat.
آن که حق پشتش نباشد از ظفر ** وای اگر گربش نماید شیر نر
Alas if from afar he see a hundred as one, so that in vain confidence he enters on the fray.
وای اگر صدرا یکی بیند ز دور ** تا به چالش اندر آید از غرور
He (God) causes a Prophet’s sword to seem a dart and makes the fierce lion appear as a cat,2300
ز آن نماید ذو الفقاری حربهای ** ز آن نماید شیر نر چون گربهای
To the end that the fool may fall boldly to fighting, and that He may catch them by this device;
تا دلیر اندر فتد احمق به جنگ ** و اندر آردشان بدین حیلت به چنگ