He (the Amír) enters in order that he may (seize him and) wear the crown (of sovereignty): because of his likeness to Jesus he himself becomes the crown of the gibbet.
اندر آید تا شود او تاجدار ** خود ز شبه عیسی آید تاجدار
(He cries out), “Oh, do not hang me: I am not Jesus, I am the Amír, I am well-disposed to the Jews.”
هی می‌آویزید من عیسی نیم ** من امیرم بر جهودان خوش‌پیم
“Hang him on the gibbet,” (cry the Jews), “with all speed, for he is Jesus: (he is) seeking to escape from our hands by personating another.”4370
زوترش بردار آویزید کو ** عیسی است از دست ما تخلیط‌جو
How often does an army march (hoping) to enjoy the fruits (of victory): its equipment becomes spoil (for the enemy), and it is overthrown.
چند لشکر می‌رود تا بر خورد ** برگ او فی گردد و بر سر خورد
How often does a merchant go (from home) in hope of gain: he thinks it will be a feast ('íd), but he is consumed like aloeswood ('úd).
چند بازرگان رود بر بوی سود ** عید پندارد بسوزد همچو عود
How often in the world does it happen contrariwise to this: (for example) one fancies (something to be bitter as) poison when it is (really sweet as) honey.
چند در عالم بود برعکس این ** زهر پندارد بود آن انگبین
Often, (when) soldiers have made up their minds to die, the splendours (of triumph) and victory appear.
بس سپه بنهاده دل بر مرگ خویش ** روشنیها و ظفر آید به پیش
Abraha came with the elephant to dishonour the House (of Allah), that he might throw down the living (and leave them lying) as though dead,4375
ابرهه با پیل بهر ذل بیت ** آمده تا افکند حی را چو میت
And destroy the holy Ka‘ba and cause all (the inhabitants) to wander forth from that place,
تا حریم کعبه را ویران کند ** جمله را زان جای سرگردان کند
In order that all the pilgrims might gather round him and might all turn in worship to his Ka‘ba,
تا همه زوار گرد او تنند ** کعبه‌ی او را همه قبله کنند