Since there is no river-marge, close thy lips, O waterskin: this Sea of candy hath (ever) been without marge or shore.
چون لب جو نیست مشکا لب ببند ** بی لب و ساحل بدست این بحر قند
How Pharaoh sent (messengers) to the cities in search of the magicians.
فرستادن فرعون به مداین در طلب ساحران
When Moses had returned (home) and he (Pharaoh) remained (with his own people), he called his advisers and counsellors to his presence.
چونک موسی بازگشت و او بماند ** اهل رای و مشورت را پیش خواند
They deemed it right that the King and Ruler of Egypt should assemble them (the magicians) from all parts of Egypt.
آنچنان دیدند کز اطراف مصر ** جمع آردشان شه و صراف مصر
Thereupon he sent many men in every direction to collect the sorcerers.
او بسی مردم فرستاد آن زمان ** هر نواحی بهر جمع جادوان
In whatsoever region there was a renowned magician, he set flying towards him ten active couriers.1160
هر طرف که ساحری بد نامدار ** کرد پران سوی او ده پیک کار
There were two youths, famous magicians: their magic penetrated into the heart of the moon.
دو جوان بودند ساحر مشتهر ** سحر ایشان در دل مه مستمر
They milked the moon publicly and openly; in their journeys they went mounted on a wine-jar.
شیر دوشیده ز مه فاش آشکار ** در سفرها رفته بر خمی سوار
They caused the moonshine to appear like a piece of linen: they measured and sold it speedily,
شکل کرباسی نموده ماهتاب ** آن بپیموده فروشیده شتاب
And took the silver away: the purchaser, on becoming aware (of the fraud), would smite his hand upon his cheeks in grief.
سیم برده مشتری آگه شده ** دست از حسرت به رخها بر زده
They were the inventors of a hundred thousand such (tricks) in sorcery, and were not (following others) like the rhyme-letter.1165
صد هزاران همچنین در جادوی ** بوده منشی و نبوده چون روی
When the King's message reached them, (to this effect): “The king is now desiring help from you,
چون بدیشان آمد آن پیغام شاه ** کز شما شاهست اکنون چاره‌خواه
Because two dervishes have come and marched in force against the King and his palace.
از پی آنک دو درویش آمدند ** بر شه و بر قصر او موکب زدند
They have naught with them except one rod, which becomes a dragon at his (Moses') command.
نیست با ایشان بغیر یک عصا ** که همی‌گردد به امرش اژدها
The King and the whole army are helpless: all have been brought to lamentation by these two persons.
شاه و لشکر جمله بیچاره شدند ** زین دو کس جمله به افغان آمدند
A remedy must be sought in magic, that maybe thou wilt save (their) lives from these two enchanters—”1170
چاره‌ای می‌باید اندر ساحری ** تا بود که زین دو ساحر جان بری
When he (the messenger) gave the message to those two magicians, a (great) fear and love descended on the hearts of them both.
آن دو ساحر را چو این پیغام داد ** ترس و مهری در دل هر دو فتاد
When the vein of homogeneity began to throb, they laid their heads upon their knees in astonishment.
عرق جنسیت چو جنبیدن گرفت ** سر به زانو بر نهادند از شگفت
Inasmuch as the knee is the Súfí's school, the two knees are sorcerers for solving a difficulty.
چون دبیرستان صوفی زانوست ** حل مشکل را دو زانو جادوست
How those two magicians summoned their father from the grave and questioned their father's spirit concerning the real nature of Moses, on whom be peace.
خواندن آن دو ساحر پدر را از گور و پرسیدن از روان پدر حقیقت موسی علیه السلام
Afterwards they said, “Come, O mother, where is our father's grave? Do thou show us the way.”
بعد از آن گفتند ای مادر بیا ** گور بابا کو تو ما را ره نما
She took them and showed the way to his grave: then they kept a three days' fast for the sake of the King.1175
بردشان بر گور او بنمود راه ** پس سه‌روزه داشتند از بهر شاه
After that they said, “O father, the King in consternation hath sent us a message
بعد از آن گفتند ای بابا به ما ** شاه پیغامی فرستاد از وجا
(To say) that two men have brought him to sore straits and have destroyed his prestige with the army.
که دو مرد او را به تنگ آورده‌اند ** آب رویش پیش لشکر برده‌اند
There is not with them any weapons or soldiers; nothing but a rod, and in the rod is a calamity and bane.
نیست با ایشان سلاح و لشکری ** جز عصا و در عصا شور و شری
Thou art gone into the world of the righteous, though to outward seeming thou liest in a tomb.
تو جهان راستان در رفته‌ای ** گرچه در صورت به خاکی خفته‌ای
If that is magic, inform us; and if it be divine, O spirit of our father,1180
آن اگر سحرست ما را ده خبر ** ور خدایی باشد ای جان پدر