- When thy slave performed goodly service, did not that accident become a robe of honour in the battle (between the flesh and the spirit)?
- بندهات چون خدمت شایسته کرد ** آن عرض نه خلعتی شد در نبرد
- This accident with the substance (belonging to it) is egg and bird: this is produced by that, and that by this, in succession.”
- این عرض با جوهر آن بیضه است و طیر ** این از آن و آن از این زاید به سیر
- The King said, “Take the meaning (to be) so: (why then) have these accidents of yours not produced any substance?”
- گفت شاهنشه چنین گیر المراد ** این عرضهای تو یک جوهر نزاد
- “(Divine) Wisdom,” replied the slave, “has kept it concealed, in order that this world of good and evil may be a mystery,
- گفت مخفی داشته ست آن را خرد ** تا بود غیب این جهان نیک و بد
- Because, if the (substantial) forms of thought were to become manifest, infidel and believer (alike) would speak naught but praise (of God). 985
- ز انکه گر پیدا شدی اشکال فکر ** کافر و مومن نگفتی جز که ذکر
- Then, were this clearly seen, O King, not hidden, and were the mark of religion or infidelity (visible) on the forehead,
- پس عیان بودی نه غیب ای شاه این ** نقش دین و کفر بودی بر جبین
- How would there be idol and idolater in this world? How would any one have the stomach to mock (at holy things)?
- کی درین عالم بت و بتگر بدی ** چون کسی را زهرهی تسخر بدی
- Then this world of ours would be (like) the Resurrection: who commits sin and wrong at the Resurrection?”
- پس قیامت بودی این دنیای ما ** در قیامت کی کند جرم و خطا
- The King said, “God has veiled the retribution of evil, but (only) from the vulgar, not from His own elect.
- گفت شه پوشید حق پاداش بد ** لیک از عامه نه از خاصان خود
- If I entrap one Amír, I keep it hidden from the (other) Amírs, (but) not from the Vizier. 990
- گر به دامی افکنم من یک امیر ** از امیران خفیه دارم نه از وزیر