From Thy infinite bounty there came an (inward) eye to the falcon-soul that was flying for Thy sake.
باز دل را که پی تو میپرید ** از عطای بیحدت چشمی رسید
From Thee its nose gained (the inward sense of) smell, and its ear the (inward) hearing: to each sense was allotted a portion (of the spiritual sense that was) distributed (amongst them all).
یافت بینی بوی و گوش از تو سماع ** هر حسی را قسمتی آمد مشاع
Since Thou givest to each sense the means of access to the Unseen, that (spiritual) sense is not subject to the frailty of death and hoary eld.
هر حسی را چون دهی ره سوی غیب ** نبود آن حس را فتور مرگ و شیب
Thou art the Lord of the kingdom: Thou givest to the (spiritual) sense something (peculiar to itself), so that that sense exercises sovereignty over (all) the senses.2815
مالک الملکی به حس چیزی دهی ** تا که بر حسها کند آن حس شهی
Story of the night-thieves with whom Sultan Mahmúd fell in during the night (and joined them), saying, “I am one of you”; and how he became acquainted with their affairs, etc.
حکایت شب دزدان کی سلطان محمود شب در میان ایشان افتاد کی من یکیام از شما و بر احوال ایشان مطلع شدن الی آخره
While King Mahmúd was roaming about alone at night he encountered a band of thieves.
شب چو شه محمود برمیگشت فرد ** با گروهی قوم دزدان باز خورد
Thereupon they said to him, “Who art thou, O honest man?” “I am one of you,” replied the King.
پس بگفتندش کیی ای بوالوفا ** گفت شه من هم یکیام از شما
One (of the thieves) said, “O company practised in cunning, let each of us declare his (special) talent;
آن یکی گفت ای گروه مکر کیش ** تا بگوید هر یکی فرهنگ خویش
Let him tell his comrades in the night-talk what (eminent) skill he possesses in his nature.”
تا بگوید با حریفان در سمر ** کو چه دارد در جبلت از هنر
One said, “O ye fellows who are exhibiting (your) cleverness, my specialty lies in my two ears.2820
آن یکی گفت ای گروه فنفروش ** هست خاصیت مرا اندر دو گوش
(It is this), that I know what a dog is saying when it barks.” The (rest of the) party replied, “Two dángs of a dínár.”
که بدانم سگ چه میگوید به بانگ ** قوم گفتندش ز دیناری دو دانگ