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