The body is earth; and when God gave it a spark (of His Light) it became adept, like the moon, in taking possession of the world.
جسم خاکست و چو حق تابیش داد ** در جهانگیری چو مه شد اوستاد
Beware! this (worldly empire) is a talisman and a dead image: its eye hath led the foolish astray from the (right) path.
هین طلسمست این و نقش مرده است ** احمقان را چشمش از ره برده است
It appears to wink: the foolish have made it their support (have put their trust in it).
مینماید او که چشمی میزند ** ابلهان سازیدهاند او را سند
How the Egyptian besought blessing and guidance from the Israelite, and how the Israelite prayed for the Egyptian and received a favourable answer to his prayer from the Most Gracious and Merciful (God).
در خواستن قبطی دعای خیر و هدایت از سبطی و دعا کردن سبطی قبطی را به خیر و مستجاب شدن از اکرم الاکرمین وارحم الراحمین
The Egyptian said, “Do thou offer a prayer (for me), since from blackness of heart I have not the mouth (fit for offering an acceptable prayer),
گفت قبطی تو دعایی کن که من ** از سیاهی دل ندارم آن دهن
For it may be that the lock of this heart will be opened and that a place will be (granted) to this ugly one at the banquet of the beauteous.3495
که بود که قفل این دل وا شود ** زشت را در بزم خوبان جا شود
Through thee the deformed may become endowed with beauty, or an Iblís may again become one of the Cherubim;
مسخی از تو صاحب خوبی شود ** یا بلیسی باز کروبی شود
Or, by the august influence of Mary's hand, the withered bough may acquire the fragrance of musk and freshness and fruit.”
یا بفر دست مریم بوی مشک ** یابد و تری و میوه شاخ خشک
Thereupon the Israelite fell to worship and said, “O God who knowest the manifest and the hidden,
سبطی آن دم در سجود افتاد و گفت ** کای خدای عالم جهر و نهفت
To whom but Thee should Thy servant lift his hand? Both the prayer and the answer (to prayer) are from Thee.
جز تو پیش کی بر آرد بنده دست ** هم دعا و هم اجابت از توست
Thou at first givest the desire for prayer, and Thou at last givest likewise the recompense for prayers.3500
هم ز اول تو دهی میل دعا ** تو دهی آخر دعاها را جزا