If ye desire from me the sign of this threatened chastisement, the she-camel's foal has run towards the mountains:
گر نشان خواهید از من زین وعید ** کره‌‌ی ناقه به سوی که دوید
If ye can catch him, there is help (for you); else the bird of hope hath surely escaped from the snare.”
گر توانیدش گرفتن چاره هست ** ور نه خود مرغ امید از دام جست
None was able to overtake the foal: he went into the mountains and vanished.2530
کس نتانست اندر آن کره رسید ** رفت در کهسارها شد ناپدید
Sálih said, “Ye see, the (Divine) destiny has been divulged and has beheaded the phantom of your hope.”
گفت دیدید آن قضا مبرم شده ست ** صورت اومید را گردن زده ست
What is the she-camel's foal? His (the saint's) heart, which ye may bring back to its place (win again) by means of well-doing and piety.
کره‌‌ی ناقه چه باشد خاطرش ** که بجا آرید ز احسان و برش
If his heart comes back (is reconciled), ye are saved from that (Divine punishment); otherwise ye are despairing and biting your fore-arms (in remorse).
گر بجا آید دلش رستید از آن ** ور نه نومیدید و ساعد را گزان
When they heard this dark threat, they cast down their eyes and waited for it (to be fulfilled).
چون شنیدند این وعید منکدر ** چشم بنهادند و آن را منتظر
On the first day they saw their faces yellow: from despair they were sighing heavily.2535
روز اول روی خود دیدند زرد ** می‌‌زدند از ناامیدی آه سرد
On the second day the faces of all became red: the time for hope and repentance was (irretrievably) lost.
سرخ شد روی همه روز دوم ** نوبت اومید و توبه گشت گم
On the third day all their faces became black: the prediction of Sálih came true without (possibility of) dispute.
شد سیه روز سوم روی همه ** حکم صالح راست شد بی‌‌ملحمه
When they all gave themselves up to despair, they fell on their knees, like (crouching) birds.
چون همه در ناامیدی سر زدند ** همچو مرغان در دو زانو آمدند
Gabriel, the trusted (angel), brought in the Qur’án the description of this kneeling, (which is described by the word) játhimín.
در نبی آورد جبریل امین ** شرح این زانو زدن را جاثمین
Do thou kneel at the time when they (the saints) are teaching thee and bidding thee dread such a kneeling as this.2540
زانو آن دم زن که تعلیمت کنند ** وز چنین زانو زدن بیمت کنند
They (the people of Thamúd) were waiting for the stroke of vengeance: the vengeance came and annihilated that town.
منتظر گشتند زخم قهر را ** قهر آمد نیست کرد آن شهر را
Sálih went from his solitude to the town: he beheld the town amidst (wrapt in) smoke and naphtha.
صالح از خکوت بسوی شهر رفت ** شهر دید اندر میان دود و نفت
He heard (the sound of) wailing from their limbs: the lamentation was plain (to hear), those who uttered it (were) invisible.
ناله از اجزای ایشان می‌‌شنید ** نوحه پیدا نوحه گویان ناپدید
He heard wailings from their bones: their spirits shedding tears, like hailstones.
ز استخوانهاشان شنید او ناله‌‌ها ** اشک ریز از جانشان چون ژاله‌‌ها
Sálih heard that and set to weeping: he began to lament for them that made lamentation.2545
صالح آن بشنید و گریه ساز کرد ** نوحه بر نوحه گران آغاز کرد
He said, “O people that lived in vanity, and on account of you I wept before God!
گفت ای قومی به باطل زیسته ** وز شما من پیش حق بگریسته
God said (to me), ‘Have patience with their iniquity: give them counsel, not much remains of their (allotted) period.’
حق بگفته صبر کن بر جورشان ** پندشان ده بس نماند از دورشان
I said, ‘Counsel is barred by ill-treatment: the milk of counsel gushes forth from love and joy.
من بگفته پند شد بند از جفا ** شیر پند از مهر جوشد وز صفا
Much ill-treatment have ye bestowed on me, (so that) the milk of counsel is curdled in my veins.’
بس که کردید از جفا بر جای من ** شیر پند افسرد در رگهای من
God said to me, ‘I will give thee a boon, I will lay a plaster on those wounds (of thine).’2550
حق مرا گفته ترا لطفی دهم ** بر سر آن زخمها مرهم نهم
God made my heart clear as the sky, He swept your oppression out of my mind.
صاف کرده حق دلم را چون سما ** روفته از خاطرم جور شما
I went (back) once more to admonition, I spake parables and words (sweet) as sugar,
در نصیحت من شده بار دگر ** گفته امثال و سخنها چون شکر