(If) you give a white falcon to a decrepit old woman, she will clip its talons for the sake of (its supposed) welfare.
باز اسپیدی به کمپیری دهی ** او ببرد ناخنش بهر بهی
The blind old woman will blindly clip the talons which are the source of its usefulness in the chase,
ناخنی که اصل کارست و شکار ** کور کمپیری ببرد کوروار
Saying, “Where has thy mother been, that thy talons are so long, O prince?”2630
که کجا بودست مادر که ترا ** ناخنان زین سان درازست ای کیا
She clipped its talons and beak and wings: the filthy old hag does this at the time of (at the time when she is moved by) affection.
ناخن و منقار و پرش را برید ** وقت مهر این می‌کند زال پلید
When she gives it tutmáj, it will not eat; (then) she is enraged and tears up her feelings of affection,
چونک تتماجش دهد او کم خورد ** خشم گیرد مهرها را بر درد
Saying, “I have cooked such (fine) tutmáj for thee, and thou art showing pride and insolence.
که چنین تتماج پختم بهر تو ** تو تکبر می‌نمایی و عتو
Thou deservest to be in that trouble and affliction: how should happiness and prosperity be suitable for thee?”
تو سزایی در همان رنج و بلا ** نعمت و اقبال کی سازد ترا
She gives it the tutmáj broth, saying, “Take this, if thou dost not wish to eat of the pastry.”2635
آن تتماجش دهد کین را بگیر ** گر نمی‌خواهی که نوشی زان فطیر
The falcon's nature does not accept (rejects) tutmáj broth: the old woman frowns, and her anger is prolonged.
آب تتماجش نگیرد طبع باز ** زال بترنجد شود خشمش دراز
In her rage the woman pours down the burning hot soup on its head: the crown of its head is made bald.
از غضب شربای سوزان بر سرش ** زن فرو ریزد شود کل مغفرش
On account of the burning pain the tears pour down from its eye: it remembers the kindness of the heart-delighting king.
اشک از آن چشمش فرو ریزد ز سوز ** یاد آرد لطف شاه دل‌فروز
(Tears pour) from those two charming coquettish eyes, which possess a hundred perfections (derived) from the countenance of the king.
زان دو چشم نازنین با دلال ** که ز چهره‌ی شاد دارد صد کمال
Its eye that turned not aside (ma zágh) has become full of wounds inflicted by the crow (zágh): the good eye is (smitten) with pain and anguish by the evil eye.2640
چشم مازاغش شده پر زخم زاغ ** چشم نیک از چشم بد با درد و داغ
(It hath) an eye with the (vast) range of the sea, (an eye) from the (immense) range whereof both the worlds appear (no bigger than) a thread of hair.
چشم دریا بسطتی کز بسط او ** هر دو عالم می‌نماید تار مو
If thousands of spheres should enter into its eye, they would vanish like a fountain before the ocean.
گر هزاران چرخ در چشمش رود ** هم‌چو چشمه پیش قلزم گم شود
The eye that has passed beyond these objects of sense-perception and won kisses from vision of the Unseen—
چشم بگذشته ازین محسوسها ** یافته از غیب‌بینی بوسها
Verily, I do not find a single ear to which I should tell a mystery concerning that beauteous eye.
خود نمی‌یابم یکی گوشی که من ** نکته‌ای گویم از آن چشم حسن
(If) the lauded and august water were to trickle (from that eye), Gabriel would (eagerly) carry off its drops,2645
می‌چکید آن آب محمود جلیل ** می‌ربودی قطره‌اش را جبرئیل
That he might rub them on his wings and beak, if that person of goodly practice give him permission.
تا بمالد در پر و منقال خویش ** گر دهد دستوریش آن خوب کیش
The falcon says, “If the anger of the old crone has blazed forth, (yet) it has not consumed my glory and splendour and self-denial and knowledge.
باز گوید خشم کمپیر ار فروخت ** فر و نور و علم و صبرم را نسوخت
The falcon, (which is) my spirit, will still weave a hundred forms: the blow falls on the she-camel, not on Sálih.
باز جانم باز صد صورت تند ** زخم بر ناقه نه بر صالح زند
At a single awful breath that Sálih heaves, the back (womb) of the mountain will bring to birth a hundred such she-camels.”
صالح از یک‌دم که آرد با شکوه ** صد چنان ناقه بزاید متن کوه
(My) heart is saying, “Be silent and observe discretion; otherwise, the (Divine) jealousy will end the warp and woof (of thy existence).”2650
دل همی گوید خموش و هوش دار ** ورنه درانید غیرت پود و تار
His jealousy hath a hundred hidden clemencies; else in one moment it would consume a hundred worlds.
غیرتش را هست صد حلم نهان ** ورنه سوزیدی به یک دم صد جهان
Kingly pride seized the place of (left no room for) admonition in him (Pharaoh), so that he wrenched his heart away from the bonds of admonition,
نخوت شاهی گرفتش جای پند ** تا دل خود را ز بند پند کند