(But) how should a prisoner in captivity give release to another imprisoned man?
کی دهد زندانیی در اقتناص ** مرد زندانی دیگر را خلاص
All the people of this world are prisoners (waiting) in expectation of death in the abode that is passing away;
اهل دنیا جملگان زندانیند ** انتظار مرگ دار فانیند
Except, to be sure, in the rare case of one who is single (fardání), one whose body is in the prison (of this world) and his spirit like Saturn (in the seventh heaven).3405
جز مگر نادر یکی فردانیی ** تن بزندان جان او کیوانیی
Therefore, in retribution for having regarded him (the fellow-prisoner) as a helper, Joseph was left in prison for several years.
پس جزای آنک دید او را معین ** ماند یوسف حبس در بضع سنین
The Devil erased from his mind the recollection of Joseph and removed from his memory those words (which Joseph had spoken).
یاد یوسف دیو از عقلش سترد ** وز دلش دیو آن سخن از یاد برد
In consequence of the sin which proceeded from that man of goodly qualities (Joseph), he was left in prison for several years by the (Divine) Judge,
زین گنه کامد از آن نیکوخصال ** ماند در زندان ز داور چند سال
Who said, “What failure was shown by the Sun of justice that thou shouldst fall, like a bat, into the blackness (of night)?
که چه تقصیر آمد از خورشید داد ** تا تو چون خفاش افتی در سواد
Hark, what failure was shown by the sea and the cloud that thou shouldst seek help from the sand and the mirage?3410
هین چه تقصیر آمد از بحر و سحاب ** تا تو یاری خواهی از ریگ و سراب
If the vulgar are bats by nature and unreal (unspiritual), thou, at least, O Joseph, hast the eye of the falcon.
عام اگر خفاش طبعند و مجاز ** یوسفا داری تو آخر چشم باز
If a bat went into the blind and blue (the world of darkness and misery), (’tis no wonder, but) after all what ailed the falcon that had seen the Sultan?”
گر خفاشی رفت در کور و کبود ** باز سلطان دیده را باری چه بود