The King said, “Do not show (such) eagerness in praising your friend, do not introduce praise of yourself in the mask of (your) praise of him;
گفت شه جلدی مکن در مدح یار ** مدح خود در ضمن مدح او میار
Because I will bring him to the test, and shame will befall you in the upshot.”
ز انکه من در امتحان آرم و را ** شرمساری آیدت در ما ورا
How the slave, from the purity of his thought, swore to the truth and loyalty of his friend.
قسم غلام در صدق و وفای یار خود از طهارت ظن خود
He said, “Nay, by Allah, and by the great God, the possessor of kingdom, and by the Merciful and Compassionate One;905
گفت نه و الله و بالله العظیم ** مالک الملک و به رحمان و رحیم
By the God who sent the prophets, not in (His) need (of them), but in grace and majesty;
آن خدایی که فرستاد انبیا ** نه به حاجت بل به فضل و کبریا
By the Lord who from the lowly earth created (those) glorious princely riders,
آن خداوندی که از خاک ذلیل ** آفرید او شهسواران جلیل
(And) purified them from the temperament of earthly beings, and caused them to outrun the celestials;
پاکشان کرد از مزاج خاکیان ** بگذرانید از تک افلاکیان
(By Him) who took up from the Fire and fashioned into pure Light—and then it outstripped all (the other) lights—
بر گرفت از نار و نور صاف ساخت ** وانگه او بر جملهی انوار تاخت
That splendour of lightning which shone over the spirits, so that Adam gained from that Light (his) knowledge (of God).910
آن سنا برقی که بر ارواح تافت ** تا که آدم معرفت ز آن نور یافت
The hand of Seth gathered that which grew from Adam: therefore Adam, when he saw that (Light in him), made him his vicar.
آن کز آدم رست و دست شیث چید ** پس خلیفهش کرد آدم کان بدید
Since Noah had enjoyment of that Jewel, he showered pearls (of Divine wisdom) in the air of the Sea of Soul.
نوح از آن گوهر که برخوردار بود ** در هوای بحر جان دربار بود
From (possession of) that mighty radiance the spirit of Abraham went fearlessly into the flames of the fire.
جان ابراهیم از آن انوار زفت ** بیحذر در شعلههای نار رفت
When Ismá‘íl (Ishmael) fell into the stream thereof, he laid his head before his (Abraham's) flashing knife.
چون که اسماعیل در جویش فتاد ** پیش دشنهی آب دارش سر نهاد
The soul of David was heated by its rays: iron became soft in his hand-loom.915
جان داود از شعاعش گرم شد ** آهن اندر دست بافش نرم شد
When Solomon was suckled on (the milk of) union with it, the demon became a thrall to his command and obedient.
چون سلیمان بد وصالش را رضیع ** دیو گشتش بنده فرمان و مطیع
When Jacob bowed his head (in submission) to the (Divine) destiny, it (the Light) illumined (gladdened) his eye with the scent of his (lost) son.
در قضا یعقوب چون بنهاد سر ** چشم روشن کرد از بوی پسر
When the moon-faced Joseph beheld that Sun, he became so wide-awake (wise) in the interpretation of dreams.
یوسف مه رو چو دید آن آفتاب ** شد چنان بیدار در تعبیر خواب
When the rod drank water (was imbued with the influence of the Light) from the hand of Moses, it made one mouthful of Pharaoh's empire.
چون عصا از دست موسی آب خورد ** ملکت فرعون را یک لقمه کرد
When Jesus, the son of Mary, found its ladder, he sped to the topmost height of the Fourth Dome (of Heaven).920
نردبانش عیسی مریم چو یافت ** بر فراز گنبد چارم شتافت
When Mohammed gained that Kingdom and Felicity, he in a moment clave the disk of the moon in two halves.
چون محمد یافت آن ملک و نعیم ** قرص مه را کرد او در دم دو نیم
When Abú Bakr became a signal example of (God's) favour, he became the Companion of such a King (as Mohammed) and (received the name) Siddíq.
چون ابو بکر آیت توفیق شد ** با چنان شه صاحب و صدیق شد
When ‘Umar became distraught with that Beloved, he became a Fárúq (discerner), like the heart, between truth and falsehood.
چون عمر شیدای آن معشوق شد ** حق و باطل را چو دل فاروق شد
When ‘Uthmán became the fountain of that clear (Essence), he was light overflowing and became Dhu ’l-Núrayn (Lord of the Two Lights).
چون که عثمان آن عیان را عین گشت ** نور فایض بود و ذی النورین گشت
When at (the sight of) its countenance Murtazá (‘Alí) began to scatter pearls (of spiritual truth), he became the Lion of God in the pasture of the soul.925
چون ز رویش مرتضی شد در فشان ** گشت او شیر خدا درمرج جان
When Junayd received that support (which he received) from its army, his maqámát (stages of progress in the mystical life) became innumerable.
چون جنید از جند او دید آن مدد ** خود مقاماتش فزون شد از عدد
Báyazíd saw the way into its superabundance, and heard from God (heard God bestow upon him) the name, “Pole of the Gnostics.”
بایزید اندر مزیدش راه دید ** نام قطب العارفین از حق شنید