Notwithstanding thy complete darkness, God was showing visions unto thee, that thou might’st wend the way of deliverance.
با کمال تیرگی حق واقعات ** می‌نمودت تا روی راه نجات
How Moses, on whom be peace, declared (by inspiration) from the Unseen the secret thoughts and visions of Pharaoh, in order that he might truly believe in the omniscience of God or (at least) hold that opinion.
باز گفتن موسی علیه‌السلام اسرار فرعون را و واقعات او را ظهر الغیب تابخبیری حق ایمان آورد یا گمان برد
From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,
ز آهن تیره بقدرت می‌نمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود
In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.
تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همی‌دیدی و بتر می‌شدی
He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;
نقشهای زشت خوابت می‌نمود ** می‌رمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود
Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]2490
هم‌چو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید
Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.
که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس
Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’
این حدث بر روی زشتت می‌کنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی
At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;
گاه می‌دیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته
Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;
گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده
Now (in thy dream thou wert) upside down in the midst of a latrine; now sunk in a fierce blood-dyed torrent;2495