We have a servant, a favourite and highly esteemed one: take the trouble to go on foot to the graveyard.
بنده‌‌ای داریم خاص و محترم ** سوی گورستان تو رنجه کن قدم
O ‘Umar, spring up and put in thy hand full seven hundred dínárs from the public treasury.
ای عمر برجه ز بیت المال عام ** هفت صد دینار در کف نه تمام
Carry them to him (and say), ‘O thou who art Our choice, accept this sum now and excuse (Us for offering such a small gift).2165
پیش او بر کای تو ما را اختیار ** این قدر بستان کنون معذور دار
Spend this amount on the price (purchase) of silk: when it is spent, come here (again).’”
این قدر از بهر ابریشم بها ** خرج کن چون خرج شد اینجا بیا
Then ‘Umar in awe of that voice sprang up that he might gird his loins for this service.
پس عمر ز آن هیبت آواز جست ** تا میان را بهر این خدمت ببست
‘Umar set his face towards the graveyard with the purse under his arm, running in search (of God's favourite).
سوی گورستان عمر بنهاد رو ** در بغل همیان دوان در جستجو
Long did he run round about the graveyard: he saw there no one but that old man.
گرد گورستان دوانه شد بسی ** غیر آن پیر او ندید آن جا کسی
He said, “This is not he,” and ran once more. He became tired out and saw none but the old man.2170
گفت این نبود دگر باره دوید ** مانده گشت و غیر آن پیر او ندید
He said, “God said, ‘We have a servant: he is a pure and worthy and blessed one.’
گفت حق فرمود ما را بنده‌‌ای است ** صافی و شایسته و فرخنده‌‌ای است
How should an old harper be the chosen of God? O Hidden Mystery, how excellent, how excellent art Thou!”
پیر چنگی کی بود خاص خدا ** حبذا ای سر پنهان حبذا
Once again he wandered about the graveyard, like the hunting lion about the desert.
بار دیگر گرد گورستان بگشت ** همچو آن شیر شکاری گرد دشت
When it became certain to him that none was there except the old man, he said, “Many an illumined heart is (to be found) in darkness.”
چون یقین گشتش که غیر پیر نیست ** گفت در ظلمت دل روشن بسی است
He came and sat down there (beside him) with a hundred marks of respect. ‘Umar happened to sneeze, and the old man sprang to his feet.2175
آمد او با صد ادب آن جا نشست ** بر عمر عطسه فتاد و پیر جست
He saw ‘Umar and stood fixed in amazement: he resolved to go and began to tremble (with fear).
مر عمر را دید و ماند اندر شگفت ** عزم رفتن کرد و لرزیدن گرفت
He said within himself, “O God, help, I beseech thee! The Inspector has fallen upon a poor old harper.”
گفت در باطن خدایا از تو داد ** محتسب بر پیرکی چنگی فتاد
When ‘Umar looked on the old man's countenance, he saw him ashamed and pale.
چون نظر اندر رخ آن پیر کرد ** دید او را شرمسار و روی زرد
Then ‘Umar said to him, “Fear not, do not flee from me, for I have brought thee glad tidings from God.
پس عمر گفتش مترس از من مرم ** کت بشارتها ز حق آورده‌‌ام
How often has God praised thy disposition, so that He has made ‘Umar in love with thy face!2180
چند یزدان مدحت خوی تو کرد ** تا عمر را عاشق روی تو کرد
Sit down beside me and do not make separation (between us), that I may say into thine ear the secret (message) from (the Divine) favour.
پیش من بنشین و مهجوری مساز ** تا به گوشت گویم از اقبال راز
God sends thee greeting and asks thee how thou farest in thy distress and boundless sorrows.
حق سلامت می‌‌کند می‌‌پرسدت ** چونی از رنج و غمان بی‌‌حدت
Lo, here are some pieces of gold to pay for silk. Spend them and come back to this place.”
نک قراضه‌‌ی چند ابریشم بها ** خرج کن این را و باز اینجا بیا
The old man trembled when he heard this, biting his hand and quivering all over,
پیر لرزان گشت چون این را شنید ** دست می‌‌خایید و بر خود می‌‌تپید
Crying, “O God who hast no like!” inasmuch as the poor old man was melted with shame.2185
بانگ می‌‌زد کای خدای بی‌‌نظیر ** بس که از شرم آب شد بی‌‌چاره پیر
After he had wept long and his grief had gone beyond (all) bounds, he dashed his harp on the earth and broke it to bits.
چون بسی بگریست و از حد رفت درد ** چنگ را زد بر زمین و خرد کرد
He said, “O thou (harp) that hast been to me a curtain (debarring me) from God, O thou (that hast been) to me a brigand (cutting me off) from the King's highway,
گفت ای بوده حجابم از اله ** ای مرا تو راه زن از شاه راه