Find that feeble unjust old crone: hark, fetch a handful of clay and make haste!”1650
آن ضعیف زال ظالم را بیاب ** مشت خاکی هین بیاور با شتاب
Azrael, the captain of the (Divine) Decree, went off towards the terrestrial globe for the purpose of requisition.
رفت عزرائیل سرهنگ قضا ** سوی کره‌ی خاک بهر اقتضا
The Earth, according to rule, began lamenting loudly: she adjured him, she swore many an oath,
خاک بر قانون نفیر آغاز کرد ** داد سوگندش بسی سوگند خورد
Crying, “O favourite youth (page-of-honour), O bearer of the Throne, O thou whose command is obeyed in heaven and earth,
کای غلام خاص و ای حمال عرش ** ای مطاع الامر اندر عرش و فرش
Depart, for the sake of the mercy of the Merciful (God)! Depart, for the sake of Him who hath shown kindness unto thee!
رو به حق رحمت رحمن فرد ** رو به حق آنک با تو لطف کرد
(Depart), for the sake of that King who alone is worshipped and with whom no one's lamentation is rejected!”1655
حق شاهی که جز او معبود نیست ** پیش او زاری کس مردود نیست
He replied, “These conjurations cannot move me to avert my face from (disobey) the Giver of (all) commands secret or manifest.”
گفت نتوانم بدین افسون که من ** رو بتابم ز آمر سر و علن
She said, “After all, He hath commanded forbearance: both (severity and forbearance) are commanded: take (choose) the latter on the ground of knowledge.”
گفت آخر امر فرمود او به حلم ** هر دو امرند آن بگیر از راه علم
He replied, “That would be an interpretation or an inference: do not seek to confuse the plain meaning of the command.
گفت آن تاویل باشد یا قیاس ** در صریح امر کم جو التباس
If thou interpret (alter) thine own thought (so as to make it agree with the command), ’tis better than that thou shouldst interpret (pervert) this unequivocal (command).
فکر خود را گر کنی تاویل به ** که کنی تاویل این نامشتبه