(For example) the refusal of the Elephant to march against the House (of Allah) notwithstanding the driver's efforts and cries of “Come on!”2745
امتناع پیل از سیران ببیت ** با جد آن پیلبان و بانگ هیت
In spite of all blows the Elephant's feet would not move, either much or little, towards the Ka‘ba.
جانب کعبه نرفتی پای پیل ** با همه لت نه کثیر و نه قلیل
You would have said that its legs were paralysed or that its impetuous spirit was dead.
گفتیی خود خشک شد پاهای او ** یا بمرد آن جان صول‌افزای او
(But) whenever they turned its head towards Yemen, the fierce Elephant would begin to stride (forward) with the speed of a hundred horses.
چونک کردندی سرش سوی یمن ** پیل نر صد اسپه گشتی گام‌زن
(Since) the Elephant's perception was aware of the blow (coming) from the Unseen, how (much more) must the perception of the saint (endowed) with (the Divine) afflatus be (aware)!
حس پیل از زخم غیب آگاه بود ** چون بود حس ولی با ورود
Is it not (the case) that the prophet Jacob, that man of holy nature, (said) for Joseph's sake to all his (Joseph's) brethren—2750
نه که یعقوب نبی آن پاک‌خو ** بهر یوسف با همه اخوان او
When the brothers begged their father to give him to them, that they might take him to the country for a while,
از پدر چون خواستندش دادران ** تا برندش سوی صحرا یک زمان
(And) they all said to him, “Do not be afraid of harm (befalling him): give him one or two days' time, O father;
جمله گفتندش میندیش از ضرر ** یک دو روزش مهلتی ده ای پدر
For why wilt not thou entrust thy Joseph to us in going about and travelling (for pleasure),
که چرا ما را نمی داری امین ** یوسف خود را به سیران و ظعین
That we may play together in the meadows? In (making) this request we are trustworthy and beneficent”—
تا به هم در مرجها بازی کنیم ** ما درین دعوت امین و محسنیم