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
Afterwards he was purposely making it awry, (but) the tiara always returned purposely (deliberately), seeking (its correct position on) the crown of his head.
بعد از آنش کژ همی کرد او به قصد ** تاج او میگشت تارکجو به قصد
Eight times did that prince make it awry, and (as many times) did it become straight on the crown of his head.
هشت کرت کژ بکرد آن مهترش ** راست میشد تاج بر فرق سرش
The tiara began to speak, saying, “O king, (now) display pride (proud independence): since thou hast shaken thy wings free from the clay, take flight (soar aloft).1910
تاج ناطق گشت کای شه ناز کن ** چون فشاندی پر ز گل پرواز کن
I have no permission to pass beyond this (point) and tear to pieces the veils of the mystery of this (matter).
نیست دستوری کزین من بگذرم ** پردههای غیب این برهم درم
Lay thy hand on my mouth: shut my mouth (so as to restrain me) from unacceptable speech.”
بر دهانم نه تو دست خود ببند ** مر دهانم را ز گفت ناپسند
Do not you, then, whatsoever grief befall you, resentfully accuse any one: turn upon yourself.
پس ترا هر غم که پیش آید ز درد ** بر کسی تهمت منه بر خویش گرد
Do not think evil of another, O you who gratify the desire of your friend: do not do that which that slave was meditating—
ظن مبر بر دیگری ای دوستکام ** آن مکن که میسگالید آن غلام
Now his quarrel (was) with the messenger and the steward, now his anger (was directed) against the generous emperor.1915
گاه جنگش با رسول و مطبخی ** گاه خشمش با شهنشاه سخی
You are like Pharaoh, who had left Moses (alone) and was taking off the heads of the people's babes:
همچو فرعونی که موسی هشته بود ** طفلکان خلق را سر میربود
The enemy (Moses) was in the house of that blind-hearted man, (while) he (outside) was cutting the necks of the children.
آن عدو در خانهی آن کور دل ** او شده اطفال را گردن گسل
You also are bad (malign) to others outside, while you have become complaisant to the grievous self (carnal soul) within.
تو هم از بیرون بدی با دیگران ** واندرون خوش گشته با نفس گران
It is your enemy indeed, (yet) you are giving it candy, while outside you are accusing every one.
خود عدوت اوست قندش میدهی ** وز برون تهمت به هر کس مینهی