I would declare a hundredth part of thy grace, were it not for the vainglory of the evil eye;
گفتمی از لطف تو جزوی ز صد ** گر نبودی طمطراق چشم بد
But from the evil venomous eye I have suffered spirit-crushing strokes.190
لیک از چشم بد زهراب دم ** زخمهای روح‌فرسا خورده‌ام
(Therefore) I will not give an eloquent description of thy state except allusively, by telling of the state of others.
جز به رمز ذکر حال دیگران ** شرح حالت می‌نیارم در بیان
(Really, however) this pretext too is one of the lures of the heart whereby the feet of the heart are (caught) in a mire.
این بهانه هم ز دستان دلیست ** که ازو پاهای دل اندر گلیست
Hundreds of hearts and souls are in love with the Maker, (but) the evil eye or the evil ear has hindered (them from seeking union with Him).
صد دل و جان عاشق صانع شده ** چشم بد یا گوش بد مانع شده
One (of them), indeed, (is) Bú Tálib, the Prophet's uncle: to him the revilement of the Arabs seemed terrible,
خود یکی بوطالب آن عم رسول ** می‌نمودش شنعه‌ی عربان مهول
For (he thought), “What will the Arabs say of me? (They will say), ‘At the bidding of his nephew he has changed the (traditional) custom on which we rely.’”195
که چه گویندم عرب کز طفل خود ** او بگردانید دیدن معتمد
He (the Prophet) said to him, “O uncle, pronounce once the profession of faith, that I may plead with God for thee.”
گفتش ای عم یک شهادت تو بگو ** تا کنم با حق خصومت بهر تو
He (Bú Tálib) said, “But it will be spread abroad by hearsay: every secret that passes beyond the two (who share it) becomes common talk.
گفت لیکن فاش گردد ازسماع ** کل سر جاوز الاثنین شاع
I shall remain (a laughing-stock) on the tongues of these Arabs: because of this I shall become despicable in their sight.”
من بمانم در زبان این عرب ** پش ایشان خوار گردم زین سبب