Oh, there is many a trusty martyred soul that has died (to self) in this world, (though) it is going about like the living.
ای بسا نفس شهید معتمد ** مرده در دنیا چو زنده می‌رود
The brigand (animal) spirit has died, though the body, which is its sword, survives: it (the sword) is (still) in the hand of that eager warrior.
روح ره‌زن مرد و تن که تیغ اوست ** هست باقی در کف آن غزوجوست
The sword is that (same) sword, the man is not that (same) man; but this appearance (of identity) is a cause of bewilderment to you.
تیغ آن تیغست مرد آن مرد نیست ** لیک این صورت ترا حیران کنیست
When the soul is transformed, this sword, namely, the body, remains in the hand of (is wielded by) the action of the Beneficent (God).
نفس چون مبدل شود این تیغ تن ** باشد اندر دست صنع ذوالمنن
The one (whose fleshly soul is dead) is a man whose food is entirely (Divine) love; the other is a man hollow as dust.3830
آن یکی مردیست قوتش جمله درد ** این دگر مردی میان‌تی هم‌چو گرد
How an informer described a girl and exhibited the picture of her on paper, and how the Caliph of Egypt fell in love with it and sent an Amír with a mighty army to the gates of Mawsil (Mosul) and made great slaughter and devastation for the purpose (of obtaining the girl).
صفت کردن مرد غماز و نمودن صورت کنیزک مصور در کاغذ و عاشق شدن خلیفه‌ی مصر بر آن صورت و فرستادن خلیفه امیری را با سپاه گران بدر موصل و قتل و ویرانی بسیار کردن بهر این غرض
An informer said to the Caliph of Egypt, “The King of Mawsil is wedded to a houri.
مر خلیفه‌ی مصر را غماز گفت ** که شه موصل به حوری گشت جفت
He holds in his arms a girl like whom there is no (other) beauty in the world.
یک کنیزک دارد او اندر کنار ** که به عالم نیست مانندش نگار
She does not admit of description, for her loveliness is beyond (all) limits: here is her portrait on paper.”
در بیان ناید که حسنش بی‌حدست ** نقش او اینست که اندر کاغذست
When the Emperor saw the portrait on the paper, he became distraught and the cup dropped from his hand.
نقش در کاغذ چو دید آن کیقباد ** خیره گشت و جام از دستش فتاد
Immediately he despatched to Mawsil a captain with a very mighty army,3835
پهلوانی را فرستاد آن زمان ** سوی موصل با سپاه بس گران