In the spirit’s imagination, O prince, ‘tis (but) half a step to Baghdad and Samarcand.
تا به بغداد و سمرقند ای همام ** روح را اندر تصور نیم گام
The fat (white) of thine eye is two dirhems in weight: the light of its spirit (reaches) to the lofty region of the sky.
دو درم سنگست پیه چشمتان ** نور روحش تا عنان آسمان
The light sees in dream without this eye: without this light what would the eye be but ruined?1885
نور بی این چشم میبیند به خواب ** چشم بیاین نور چه بود جز خراب
The spirit is unconcerned with the beard and moustache of the body, but without the spirit the body is a carcase and vile.
جان ز ریش و سبلت تن فارغست ** لیک تن بیجان بود مردار و پست
Such is the magnificence of the animal spirit: advance farther, behold the human spirit.
بارنامهی روح حیوانیست این ** پیشتر رو روح انسانی ببین
Pass beyond Man and (logical) disputation unto the shore of the sea of the spirit of Gabriel.
بگذر از انسان هم و از قال و قیل ** تا لب دریای جان جبرئیل
After that, the, spirit of Ahmad (Mohammed) will bite thy lip (kiss thee lovingly), and Gabriel will creep back in fear of thee,
بعد از آنت جان احمد لب گزد ** جبرئیل از بیم تو واپس خزد
And will say, “If I come one bow’s length towards thee, I shall be instantly consumed.”1890
گوید ار آیم به قدر یک کمان ** من به سوی تو بسوزم در زمان
How the slave was indignant because no reply to his letter arrived from the king.
آشفتن آن غلام از نارسیدن جواب رقعه از قبل پادشاه
Truly this desert hath no head or foot (top or bottom). That youth, (being) without a reply to his letter, is aggrieved
این بیابان خود ندارد پا و سر ** بیجواب نامه خستست آن پسر
And says, “Oh, ‘tis a wonder. How did the king give me no reply? Or (perchance) the carrier of the letter behaved treacherously because of the torment (of envy),
کای عجب چونم نداد آن شه جواب ** با خیانت کرد رقعهبر ز تاب
And concealed the letter and did not show it to the king; for he was a hypocrite and (like) a piece of water beneath straw.
رقعه پنهان کرد و ننمود آن به شاه ** کو منافق بود و آبی زیر کاه
I will write another letter by way of test and seek another accomplished messenger.”
رقعهی دیگر نویسم ز آزمون ** دیگری جویم رسول ذو فنون
That heedless man ignorantly puts the blame on the Amir and the steward and the letter-carrier.1895
بر امیر و مطبخی و نامهبر ** عیب بنهاده ز جهل آن بیخبر
Never does he go round about (inspect) himself and say, “I have acted perversely, like the idolater in (turning away from’ the true) religion.”
هیچ گرد خود نمیگردد که من ** کژروی کردم چو اندر دین شمن
How the wind blew perversely against Solomon, on whom be peace, because of his lapse.
کژ وزیدن باد بر سلیمان علیهالسلام به سبب زلت او
The wind moved perversely against Solomon's throne. Then Solomon said, “O wind, do not creep (along) perversely.”
باد بر تخت سلیمان رفت کژ ** پس سلیمان گفت بادا کژ مغژ
The wind too said, “Do not move perversely (act wrongfully), O Solomon; and if thou move perversely, be not angry at my perverseness.
باد هم گفت ای سیلمان کژ مرو ** ور روی کژ از کژم خشمین مشو
God set up these scales for the purpose that justice might be done to us in eternity.
این ترازو بهر این بنهاد حق ** تا رود انصاف ما را در سبق
(If) thou give short measure, I will give short measure; so long as thou art honest with me, I am honest (with thee).”1900
از ترازو کم کنی من کم کنم ** تا تو با من روشنی من روشنم
Likewise, Solomon's tiara swerved to one side and made the bright day (dark) as night to him.
همچنین تاج سلیمان میل کرد ** روز روشن را برو چون لیل کرد
He said, “O tiara, do not become awry on my head: O sun, do not decline from my orient.”
گفت تا جا کژ مشو بر فرق من ** آفتابا کم مشو از شرق من
He was putting the tiara straight with his hand, (but) the tiara always became awry for him again, O youth.
راست میکرد او به دست آن تاج را ** باز کژ میشد برو تاج ای فتی
Eight times he straightened it, and (each time) it became awry. He said, “Why, what is the matter, O tiara? Do not sag crookedly.”
هشت بارش راست کرد و گشت کژ ** گفت تاجا چیست آخر کژ مغژ
It replied, “If thou put me straight a hundred times, (’tis useless): I go awry since thou goest awry, O trusted one.”1905
گفت اگر صد ره کنی تو راست من ** کژ شوم چون کژ روی ای متمن
Then Solomon put straight his inward part: he made his heart cold to (caused it to renounce) the lust which it had.
پس سلیمان اندرونه راست کرد ** دل بر آن شهوت که بودش کرد سرد
Thereupon his tiara immediately became straight and such as he wished it to be.
بعد از آن تاجش همان دم راست شد ** آنچنان که تاج را میخواست شد